Tradition of Dictatorial Rule in Latin America

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Tradition of Dictatorial Rule in Latin America

Dictator: 1 a: a person granted absolute emergency power b: one holding complete autocratic control c: one ruling absolutely and often oppressively.

If there is one thing that Latin America has in common, its the overwhelming amount of dictatorial rule since its separation from Spain. Almost all the Latin American countries have had significant changes in rule, however, they are basically smooth transitions. Rulers come in and out of countries without so much as a whisper of opposition. However, there are a few countries out there who have had significant upheavals and resistance to change in power.

Despite the number of different rulers throughout Latin American history, it would be unfair to categorize them all together, the rulers are all significantly different. They all have different nicknames according to their actions or hook into politics, anywhere from "The Liberator" and "The Benefactor" to "The Shaggy One" (Hamill 8). They come from different backgrounds; upper-class, middle-class, military, working-class and others. They are all significantly different, yet they all have the ability to persuade and unite a significant amount of people together to make a change.

The tradition of dictatorial rule came from a long history of resistance against a larger form of government. It becomes a cultural aspect in a sense that the dictator becomes the caudillo, or national boss. It is, in a sense, the head chief of the village. The loyalty is traditionally given to a local leader, a headman, not a whole nation. It was easier to follow the bandits or patriots than to follow some unseen government. These leaders are successful in their attempts to dominate. They have the "...

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...nd more countries brought forth rulers who have managed to keep their country relatively peaceful, and yet there are still some revolutionists who sneak into power and create all sorts of disturbances not only for Latin America, but for countries around the world. Latin America is still a young continent and still has issues to iron out. It is difficult to say where, exactly Latin America is heading as far as political power goes.

Works Cited:

Chasteen, John. Ed(?) and Trans. The Contemporary History of Latin America. North Carolina: Duke University Press, 1993.

Ford, Guy Stanton, Ed. Dictatorship in The Modern World. Place..: University of Minnesota Press, 1939. 178-214.

Hamill, Hugh. Dictatorship in Spanish America. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1965.

Merriam Websters Collegiate Dictionary. 10th Edition. Springfield, Mass: Merriam-Webster Inc., 1996.

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