Social Movements of Latino America

Social Movements.
Major social movements emerged in most of Latin America in response to the economic crisis of the 1990's and early 2000's.  The most successful were found in Brazil, Ecuador, Venezuela, Argentina and Bolivia...


Zapatistas (Mexico) 

EZLN
Mexico witnessed a series of localized rebellions and mass uprisings against the neo-liberal regimes dominating Mexico.  In 1994, the Zapatista National Liberal Army (EZLN), based in the Indian communities of rural Chiapas, temporarily succeeded in gaining control of several towns and cities. An unstable truce was declared, frequently violated by the government, in which an isolated EZLN continued to exist confined to a remote area in the state of Chiapas. 
 

Zapatistas

Sandirisimo (Nicaragua)

1979 was the year that Nicaragua was seized power by the Sandinismo. They build resistance alliance against the dictator Somaza. Mexico, Venezuela and Panama helped the Sandinistas defeated Somoza in the popular uprising. 

'Partido Socialist' de Argentina

  In December 2001, the people of Buenos Aires staged a massive popular uprising in front of the Presidential palace with the demonstrators taking over the Congress.

The strongest relationship between a severe economic crisis and a mass popular rebellion took place in Argentina in December 19-20, 2001 and continued throughout 2002.  After two years of mass mobilizations and confrontation, the movements, facing an impasse in resolving the crisis, turned toward politics and elected Peronist Kirchner in the 2003 Presidential campaign.

'The Rural Landless Workers Movement (MST)' from Brazil

With over 300,000 active members and over 350,000 peasant families settled in co-operatives throughout the country, represented the biggest and best organized social movement in Latin America. They organizing mass ‘land occupations', which settled hundreds of thousands of landless rural workers.

'Chavez' from Venezuela

Major popular revolts in 1989 and 1992 culminated in the election of Hugo Chavez in 1999. Social movement activity and membership flourished, as the government extended its social welfare. While the ruling class continues to control certain key economic sectors and highly-paid officials in the state sector retain powerful levers over the economy, the Chavez government and the mass popular movements have maintained the initiative in advancing the struggle throughout the decade from the late 1990's into the first decade of the new millennium.

'Fidel Castro' de Cuba

Castro is a controversial and highly divisive world figure, being lauded as a champion of anti-imperialism, humanitarianism, socialism and environmentalism by his supporters, but his critics have accused him of being a dictator whose authoritarian administration has overseen multiple human abuse rights. He led the transformation of Cuba into a socialist republic, nationalizing industry, introducing free healthcare and education, and raising the standard of living. 

Fidel and Che.
He is el Che Guevara, was a physician, author, Guerrilla leader, diplomat, and military theorist. A major figure of the Cuban Revolution. Guevara performed a number of key roles in the new Cuban government. These included reviewing the appeals and firing squads for those convicted as war criminals during the revolution.