Radical Thought in Central America (Latin American Perspectives Series, No 7)

Central American pensadores have interpreted the theories of Marx and other scholars of revolution in diverse ways. In this book Sheldon Liss examines the political theory and ideology of some of Central America's most important radical thinkers, including non-Marxists, and demonstrates how they have challenged the tenets of imperialism and capitalism. Chapters on individual Central American countries begin with brief historical introductions that emphasize the rise of radical activities and organizations. Individual essays based on published writings, interviews, and scholarly analyses of their works then establish each writer's personal ideology, social and political goals, and theories of society, state, and institutions of power. Liss also examines their relationship to social and political movements and contributions to the national intellectual life of the past and present. In addition, Liss discusses the writers' understanding of the role of the United States in the Americas and beliefs about national struggles for independence. By focusing on political and social theory and on intellectual history, this book also provides the background critical for understanding recent developments and changes in Central America. Cover 1 Half Title 2 Series Page 3 Title 5 Copyright 6 Contents 7 Acknowledgments 9 List of Acronyms 11 Map of Central America 12 1 Introduction 13 Radical Intellectuals 13 Praxis 15 Marx and His Major Interpreters 16 The Writers' Approaches 22 The Author's Approach 24 Historical Backgrounds 26 2 Guatemala 36 Juan José Arévalo: The Era of Spiritual Socialism 47 Manuel Galich: Radical Analysis of Liberal Failure 55 Guillermo Toriello: U.S. Response to Bourgeois Nationalism 59 Edelberto Torres Rivas: The Consummate Radical Academician 64 3 El Salvador 74 Agustín Farabundo Martí and Abel Cuenca: Revolutionary Precursors 86 Salvador Cayetano Carpio: Latin America's Ho Chi Minh 91 Roque Dalton: Seeking Justice Through Poetry and Armed Resistance 96 Rafael Menjívar: Capital Accumulation, Labor, and Land Reform 102 4 Honduras 108 Graciela A. García: Feminist Revolutionary 118 Longino Becerra: Adapting Communism to Honduran Reality 123 Mario Posas: Workers' Movements and Land Tenure Questions 128 Víctor Meza: From 1870s Liberal Reform State to 1980s Pentagon Republic 133 5 Costa Rica 138 Vicente Sáenz: Socialist Man of Letters 150 Manuel Mora: The "Red Pope," 155 Rodolfo Cerdas Cruz: Diagnostician of Institutionalized Democracy 160 José Luis Vega Carballo: The Liberal State anid Indirect Domination 166 6 Nicaragua 170 Rubén Darío: Nicaragua's National Treasure 183 Augusto César Sandino: "The Freeman's General," 187 Carlos Fonseca Amador: Sandinista Theorist and Revolutionary Martyr 193 Ernesto Cardenal: God's Revolutionary Minister of Culture 199 Jaime Wheelock Román: The Marxist Component of Sandinismo 207 7 Conclusions 216 Notes 228 Bibliography 262 About the Book and Author 289 Index 290 The Era Of Spiritual Socialism / Juan Jose Arevalo -- Radical Analysis Of Liberal Failure / Manuel Galich -- U.s. Response To Bourgeois Nationalism / Guillermo Toriello -- The Consummate Radical Academician / Edelberto Torres Rivas -- Revolutionary Precursorss / Agustin Farabundo Marti And Abel Cuenca -- Latin America's Ho Chi Minh / Salvador Cayetano Carpio -- Seeking Justice Through Poetry And Armed Resistance / Roque Dalton -- Capital Accumulation, Labor And Land Reform / Rafael Menjivar -- Feminist Revolutionary / Graciela A. Garcia -- Adapting Communism To Honduran Reality / Longino Becerra -- Workers' Movements And Land Tenure Questions / Mario Posas -- From 1870s Liberal Reform State To 19980s Pentagon Republic / Victor Meza -- Socialist Man Of Letters / Vicente Saenz -- The Red Pope / Manuel Mora -- Diagnostician Of Institutionalized Democracy / Rodolfo Cerdas Cruz -- The Liberal State And Indirect Domination / Jose Luis Vega Carballo -- Nicaragua's National Treasure / Ruben Dario -- The Freeman's General / Augusto Cesar Sandino -- Sandinista Theorist And Revolutionary Martyr / Carlos Fonseca Amador -- God's Revolutionary Minister Of Culture / Ernesto Cardenal -- The Marxist Component Of Sandinismo / Jaime Wheelock Roman. Sheldon B. Liss. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 217-277) And Index. An examination of the political theory and ideology of some of Central America's most important radical thinkers, including non-Marxists. Historical introductions on individual countries are followed by essays on each writer's works, ideology, and social and political goals and theories.