South America saw a wave of populist leaders that defied the conservative establishment.
3. Juan Domingo Peron
“Don’t
cry for me Argentina” the famous line from the movie Evita that immortalized
Evita and Juan Domingo Peron. Born in 1895 a bastard in Buenos Aires, Juan
Domingo Peron opened his eyes to the inequalities of society at a young age. In
1913, he graduated from the military academy and worked his way up the military
ranks until he reached the rank of Colonel in 1942.
In
1943, he supported a coup that brought the military to power and took for
himself the position of labor and social welfare minister where he build up his
political base among labor groups. He supported the resolution of labor
disputes in favor of the workers and pushed for increase pay and benefits. His
actions as labor minister made him popular that became apparent in 1945 when
his rivals had him arrested but released within few days after workers and
labor groups of Peron called the Descamisados or Shirtless rallied. With much
support from the masses, Peron became Argentina’s president in 1946.
As
President, he showed his populism by showering workers and the poor with
handouts, additional benefits and pay. He introduced the Aguinaldo or 13th
month pay bonus. His wife Evita worked in social welfare handing out money and
housing to the poor. In the national level, he promoted industrialization and
nationalized railroads and utilities. He promoted a new idea called
Justicialism or social justice that bordered capitalism and communism.
Eventually, this idea along government intervention in the economy and
socialism became the cornerstone of Peronist ideology.
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| Juan and Evita Peron |
Nonetheless,
the Peronist government also earned criticism for its iron hand in clamping
down against opposition especially the leftist.
In
1955, a coup ended Peron’s first presidency and forced him to exile, yet his
influence in politics remained strong that paved his way back to power in 1973.
His second term mired with inflation and economic crisis which he failed to
address when he passed away in 1974, leaving his unpopular new wife Isabel as
the new President. Ever since, Peron’s idea remained strong that cast a long
shadow over Argentina’s political history.
2. Salvador Allende
Before
the bloody dictatorship of August Pinochet in Chile, a democratically elected
President ruled with the name of Salvador Allende. Born to a well-off political
family in 1908 and a doctor by profession, he became involved in socialist
ideas during his childhood and became active in his days in the university. He
ran as a representative and multiple times as President. He became a famous
socialist politician and became the Presidential candidate of the Popular Unity
Coalition composing of socialist, communist, and some social democratic
parties.
In
1970, he narrowly won the presidency and became the first democratically
elected socialist leader in the western hemisphere. He continued the struggle
of the poor and marginalized against the conservative and wealthy
industrialist, foreign capitalist, and hacienderos. He abided the constitution
and maintained civil liberties. He then nationalized without compensation
copper mining companies, mostly Americans, and other industries. He also broke
up the haciedas and handed lands to peasant cooperatives. He increased wages
and benefits and controlled price of basic necessities. He aimed to make Chile
a socialist paradise through peaceful means.
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| August Pinochet, leader of the coup that toppled Allende's government |
His
actions and intervention in the economy, though, created an economic downturn
and his enemies, including conservatives, the rich, and the United States,
banded together to topple down Allende’s government. Thus, in September 11,
1973, after Allende had a conflict with the Congress controlled by the
conservatives, a military coup led soldiers to attack the Presidential Palace
killing President Allende in process.
1. Fidel Castro
Survived
about a dozen of American presidents, Fidel Castro ruled Cuba from 1959 to
2008. Born to a modest Spanish immigrant and sugarcane farmer, he became a
militant student during his teenage years. A lawyer by profession, he ran for
Congress under the radical ticket in 1952. The election, however, never took
place as Fulgencio Batista rose to power and cancelled the election.
In
July 26, 1952, he attempted to stage an uprising by attacking a military base
in vain. He and his companions named their movement from the failed attack the
26th of July Movement. Castro made a charismatic defense in his
trial making the proceedings as a launch pad for his popularity. He was
released in 1955 and fled to Mexico where he trained to return and fight
Batista’s corrupt government.
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| Castro arrested |
In
1956 he and his companions made a rough return to Cuba and commenced guerrilla movement
against Batista and established a political based among the rural population.
In 1958, Batista fled the country and Castro’s forces entered Havana.
In
1959, Castro established himself as Cuba’s leader and reformed the country. He
replaced the capitalist economy with a command economy. He divided haciendas
and large sugar plantations and allocated the lands for collective farming. He
improved healthcare and education in the countryside and nationalized big
business both domestic and foreign owned.
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| Castro in UN, 1960 |
Despite
his country’s close proximity to the United States, Castro survived multiple
foreign plots, including an invasion and assassination attempts. Though the US
embargo against Cuba led to shortages, Castro’s close alliance with the Soviet
kept his regime alive. Castro’s rule of Cuba even outlived the Soviet Union
itself and saw the dawn of the 21st century. In 2008, Castro stepped down and
handed over power to his brother Raul. He passed away in 2016.
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