Notes on Central America to Seeking Justice Program Pete Bohmer, 10/3/02 Central America I. Demographics of Central America (approximate) for 1998 to 2000 Population (millions) Area 000 s sq. miles Economy Guatemala 11 42 Coffee, banana, cotton, maquilas, sugar, tourism Belize 0.3? Sugar, tourism Honduras 6 43 Bananas, coffee El 6.2 8.2 Coffee, Salvador remittances Nicaragua 4.5 57 Coffee, cotton, sugar, timber, banana Coasta Rica 3.8 20 Coffee, banana, sugar, tourism Panama 3? Sugar, fresh druit, other Infant Mortality/000 under 5 Income Per Capita HDI* 56 $900 111 44 63 35 $1000 119 40 $850 114 57 $600 126 15 $1700 34 20 45 *HDI = human development index; it combines life expectancy, adult literacy, school enrollment and per capita income adjusted for purchasing power (but not distribution) Canada = 1; France, 2; U.S, 4; Niger, 173; Sierra Leone, 174. Sources: Walter Lafeber, Inevitable Revolutions Human Development Report 1998
(mainly talk about Guatemala, Nicaragua and El Salvador today) II. Political economy of Central America A. Why massive poverty in Central America improvement in life expectancy, infant mortality in most countries over last 40 years but ½ or more of population absolutely poor in Guatemala, Nicaragua, El Salvador and Honduras? B. Political Economy and Political Economic Analysis Analysis of a society that is historical, that focuses on the internal and external power relationships and structures. Does not separate the political from the economic but rather examines the relations between the organization of the economy (production and distribution of goods and services) with the state. Focus on class relationships and their interrelation with gender and race relations. Key is dynamics of capitalism. Political economy is influenced by Marxism. C. Specifics for Central America 1. Class structure a. Prior to Spanish private property in land unknown b. Going back to Spanish colonization--latifundia, Haciendas Indian population forced to work for Spanish and criollos. Class relation based on force, racism. c. Indian and most mestizos did not have enough land to provide for their families had to work on haciendas, plantations, used force to keep wages low By class relations, I mean primarily relations of production, 2. Production for export increased taking of land by wealthy bananas, cotton, coffee, cattle, sugar, cotton a. Wealth ended up with local oligarchs (elites) El Salvador s 40 families; foreign producers (United Fruit in Honduras, Guatemala,), Importers and foreign investment, primarily Britain in 19th century, Increasingly U.S. in 20th century products have changed, today growth of light industry but still for export b. Hunger and exports of agricultural goods. Less good consumption in Guatemala today for majority than pre conquest.
c. Lack of development, human and economic d. The case of coffee, hunger and starvation today, see Oxfam report Alternative, producing more for local market, agriculture and other goods Extreme poverty of majority makes production for local market difficult 3. Class structure and struggle Central America is increasingly becoming urban, Guatemala, Honduras over 40%, others over 50. still main economic relation is between farmworker/campesino and landowner. Struggle over land, wages, conditions, rights to unionize. Huge informal sector (selling on street, not covered by laws, most of urban population). Also upper class in banking, importing, e.g., cars.. Also urban working class, small industry, processing. State has supported oligarchy, although differences, some more industrial 4. Unequal development, wealth and poverty develop together on a global scale. III. U.S. intervention in Central America, past and present A. Key concept imperialism political economic domination of one society by another, usually to economically benefit a powerful group or class in the dominant country. U.S. imperialism in Central America for 100 since late 1800 s. National interest often use of state to supports interests of capitalist and upper class. B. Colonialism and neocolonialism Relation between domestic upper class, military of Central American countries and U.S. corporations and U.S. government has varied. In all cases, extreme repression to maintain power of wealthy whom U.S. has supported. C. U.S. domination and intervention Monroe Doctrine no intervention by other countries in Americas Panama Canal--1903 Roosevelt Doctrine (Teddy)-U.S.- to intervene to maintain order D. Nicaragua extreme case, Marines occupied Nicaragua, 1909-1932 Trained national Guard, who killed Sandino, nationalist and anti-imperialist. Somoza family ruled from 1934-1979. U.S. support, School of the Americas.
Guatemala 1954 Banana republics referred to power of United and Standard Fruit in CA, Honduras, Guatemala Grew to murderous level in 1980 s, National Security doctrine developed in U.S. IV. Revolution in Central America Continual resistance, e.g., cultural in Guatemala, labor movements in Honduras Let me briefly mention the following Anti-capitalist although alternatives not always spelled out. A. Nicaragua 1. Sandino-primarily anti-imperialist in 1920 s, early 30 s, pro worker and peasant 2. Growth of revolutionary movements in 1960 s worldwide, inspired by Cuban revolution, students very important, extreme repression. Formation of FSLN in late Armed struggle only option, liberation theology important, rural and urban struggle, many anti Somoza business elements joined. U.S. supported Somoza but did not fully oppose Sandinistas until after they won. Nica ruled by Somoza with large U.S. presence. 2b. Took power in 1979, 30,000 plus killed by Somoza. Victory inspired people all the world. Logic of the majority, literacy, democracy and mixed economy. Land reform, large private sector remained, didn t invest. Little support from Atlantic Coast, indigenous population, Miskitos. I was there in 1986 and 1988, hope but really difficult. Increasing Contra war against them, church and business against them, funded by U.S., organized by U.S. with bases in Honduras, Costa Rica.,World court ruled against U.S. Reagan as obsessed by Sandinistas as Bush administration by Iraq. U.S. sponsored terrorism, 40,000 dead. After 1984, increasing problems. Won elections in 1984, lost in 1990. U.S. made it clear would only recognize elections if Sandinistas lost, opposition party since with about 40%of vote. B. El Salvador and Guatemala 1. El Salvador Peasant uprising, led by El Salvador Communist Party,
1932 30, 000 killed, death sentence for wearing indigenous clothing. Ideas continued. Strong labor, student and peasant movements against oligarchy, the 14 families. Growth of armed movement linked to peasant movements. Formation of FMLN in 1970 s, controlled territory huge involvement by U.S., trainers, 6 billion dollars, 75,000 dead. Massacres like Guatemala. Some land reform to weaken left. Little selfidentified indigenous population. Peace Treaty in 1992. FMLN 2nd party in El Salvador. 2. Guatemala Revolutionary movements not as strong as Salvador, Guatemalan military stronger not as much direct intervention by U.S. like Salvador. Women played major role in Salvador Revolution also. Key counterrevolutionary strategy model villages, e.g., Modelo, see Men With Guns. used against Native Americans in U.S., 19th century, Vietnam, Forced Relocation camps. millions of displaced people form the war. also civilian patrols now being started in Colombia. Nominal civilian rule after mid 1980 s. Negotiations, Treaty 1996. Some indigenous rights recognized, little change on land. V. Solidarity Movement in the United States Key movements in 1980 s, solidarity with Nicaraguan revolution, 100,000 from U.S. went, from all over the world-stopped U.S. troops but couldn t stop the destructive nature of U.S. role against a really poor country many people haven t recover from 1990 loss, In Olympia, Thurston County Santa Tomas Sister County solidarity between the people of Santa Tomas and this county trips, bring delegations here, very impressive. Huge anti-intervention movement against U.S. role in Salvador, less strong with Guatemala. Chapters all over the country, CISPES-also big church presence, solidarity not just intervention but also supported the other side, different from today. CISPES Committee in Solidarity with the people of El Salvador, Larry Mosqueda, X6513 Nisgua solidarity with Guatemala, bringing a speaker here in October.
VI. The Current Situation A. Peace and the Peace Accords Peace but no Justice; Elections but no democracy B. Neoliberalism and neocolonialism Economic model of production for export, privatization, cut government spending, no regulations on capital, no or minimal rights for labor, Inequality is worsening as is poverty even in success story of El Salvador Growth of demoralization, crime, survival takes up most of time. C. Coffee and Hunger Price of coffee has fallen so low that there is mass hunger, starvation in Honduras, and Nicaragua. 30 cents pound, unstable, less than costs of production D. Hope Ideas of revolution exist, organizing of banana workers and indigenous movements in Guatemala, women s organizations in Nicaragua, growing anti-liberal and anti-capitalist movement in Latin America. Other references, Susanne Jonas, Of Centaurs and Doves, Guatemala Peace Process Tom Barry, Roots of Rebellion, Land and Hunger in Central America web-sites: www.znet.org Magazine, Report of the Americas, put out by NACLA