Lecture 8: Socialism, Anarchism, and Modern Art Flashcards
What are some reasons that explain why socialism, anarchism, and Marxism take root in Latin America?
- Fertile ground in the economic and social changes of Latin America
- Alternative to old theological and religious explanations of inequality
- New way of structuring society
- Creation and internationalization of a mass movement
- Combine politics and armed struggle
- Identified neo-colonialism and conservative/liberal Latin American elites as the enemy of the people
What was Latin America’s economy broadly like in the 19th-20th century, before WWI and WWII?
- Economic development due to high demand for raw materials
- Emergence of light economy to respond to domestic and regional demands
- Boom in mining and agro-industrial sectors due to mechanization and increased demand for commodities
How did migrations aid in the spread of leftist ideologies such as socialism and Marxism?
- Migrations from rural to urban regions facilitated exchange of ideas between workers in different sectors
- There was the creation of labour movements
- Immigrants (especially from Europe) also brought ideologies such as socialism, anarchism, and Marxism which developed radical political thought
How did the State respond to labour, peasant and worker movements?
These movements were met with violent state repression (see examples in notes)
What was the Church’s stance on inequality in the prior to the 20th century? What shape does it take in the 20th century
The Church has historically had an ambiguous stance regarding inequality
- they heavily relied on slavery yet supported human treatment of slaves
- they supported colonization and conquest while condemning Indigenous mistreatment
In the 20th century, the Church spreads the notion that inequality is a part of human nature and that one must accept it’s social status since it is natural law
What is Marxism’s stance on inequality?
Inequality emerges in capitalist systems, which are based on the alienation of labour workers in favour of landowners
What are the beliefs of conservatives vs. liberals in 19th century Latin America?
Conservatives:
- support hierarchical structure since they believe it is natural law
- uphold patriarchal and authoritarian state
- favour monarchichal, dictatorial, or highly restricted democratic governments
Liberals:
- favour liberalism and free markets
- social status based on individual effort
- often excluded women and illiterate population from political rights
- favoured soft dictatorships or liberal-democratic governance
How does Latin America identity change with the creation and internationalization of leftist mass movements?
New sense of Latin American identity that emerges, that is rooted in shared injustice, suffering, and exploitation rather than elitist cultural discourses of the upper class
How does leftist ideologies manifest itself in the political struggle and armed conflict in Latin American nations? What are some limitations?
Through political participation (creation of parties, organizations, unions, etc.) and armed resistance (guerrillas, popular armies, assassinations, bombings, etc.)
Limitations: alienation of significant portion of the population due to belief that these parties simply want to replace the old regime instead of reform it
Why did it take a while for Indigenous political parties to form after the colonial period?
Due to limited access to education and exclusion from elections
What is Indigenismo?
Social movement advocating for Indigenous rights
Did Marxism and socialism include Indigenous interests in their ideologies?
Not often, since Marxism and socialism were modernization theories, and so they often perceived Indigenous cultures as “primitive”
Despite their uneasy relationship, they still generally had a mutually beneficial relationship
Where did Marxism find it’s primary support base? Who were they?
In urban centers
- working class and white/mestizo elites
How was Marxism expressed in more rural Indigenous regions?
Some Indigenous leaders integrated parts of Marxism/socialism into Indigenism and other movements. However, there was a reluctance to give up ancestral culture in favour of a Marxist utopia.
This tension led to conflicts among Marxists and those who supported Indigenous institutions and political practices
Who was Jose Carlos Mariategui?
Peruvian thinker that explored intersections between Marxism and Indigenism
Who is Diego Rivera?
- Well known Mexican muralist
- Combined realist, abstract, and surrealist styles with the old tradition of mural painting
- His art was characterized by anti-elitist and socialist ideologies
- He often portrayed Latin American realities –> fights against exploitation and oppression
- Famous painting: Man at the Crossroads
Who is Wilfredo Lam (Cuba) and Oswaldo Guayasamin (Ecuador)?
They were figurative and abstract painters
Who was Tarsila do Amaral
Famous female brazilian painter that led the modernist art movement in the 1920s. Painted a lot of female figures.
Who are Silvestre Revuelta (Mexico) and Heitor Villalobos (Brazil)?
Music composers of the 20th century
