Revolution in the Countryside : Rural Conflict and Agrarian Reform in Guatemala, 1944-1954

Although most discussions of the Guatemalan "revolution" of 1944-54 focus on international and national politics, Revolution in the Countryside presents a more complex and integrated picture of this decade. Jim Handy examines the rural poor, both Maya and Ladino, as key players who had a decisive impact on the nature of change in Guatemala. He looks at the ways in which ethnic and class relations affected government policy and identifies the conflict generated in the countryside by new economic and social policies. Handy provides the most detailed discussion yet of the Guatemalan agrarian reform, and he shows how peasant organizations extended its impact by using it to lay claim to land, despite attempts by agrarian officials and the president to apply the law strictly. By focusing on changes in rural communities, and by detailing the coercive measures used to reverse the "revolution in the countryside" following the overthrow of President Jacobo Arbenz Guzmâ?¡n, Handy provides a framework for interpreting more recent events in Guatemala, especially the continuing struggle for land and democracy. Although Most Discussions Of The Guatemalan Revolution Of 1944-54 Focus On International And National Politics, Revolution In The Countryside Presents A More Complex And Integrated Picture Of This Decade. Jim Handy Examines The Rural Poor, Both Maya And Ladino, As Key Players Who Had A Decisive Impact On The Nature Of Change In Guatemala. He Looks At The Ways In Which Ethnic And Class Relations Affected Government Policy And Identifies The Conflict Generated In The Countryside By New Economic And Social Policies. Handy Provides A Discussion Of The Guatemalan Agrarian Reform, And He Shows How Peasant Organizations Extended Its Impact By Using It To Lay Claim To Land, Despite Attempts By Agrarian Officials And The President To Apply The Law Strictly. By Focusing On Changes In Rural Communities, And By Detailing The Coercive Measures Used To Reverse The Revolution In The Countryside Following The Overthrow Of President Jacobo Arbenz Guzman, Handy Provides A Framework For Interpreting More Recent Events In Guatemala, Especially The Continuing Struggle For Land And Democracy. --from Publisher's Description. 1. Introduction -- 2. The October Revolution -- 3. A Sea Of Indians: Rural Organization And Ethnic Conflict -- 4. Agrarian Reform: The Most Precious Fruit Of The Revolution -- 5. Class, Ethnicity, Politics, And The Agrarian Reform -- 6. Community And Revolution -- 7. Communism And The Military -- 8. The Liberation. Jim Handy. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [247]-267) And Index. Although most discussions of the Guatemalan "revolution" of 1944-54 focus on international and national politics, Revolution in the Countryside presents a more complex and integrated picture of this decade. Jim Handy examines the rural poor, both Maya and Ladino, as key players who had a decisive impact on the nature of change in Guatemala. He looks at the ways in which ethnic and class relations affected government policy and identifies the conflict generated in the countryside by new economic and social policies. Handy provides the most detailed discussion yet of the Guatemalan agrarian reform, and he shows how peasant organizations extended its impact by using it to lay claim to land, despite attempts by agrarian officials and the president to apply the law strictly. By focusing on changes in rural communities, and by detailing the coercive measures used to reverse the "revolution in the countryside" following the overthrow of President Jacobo Arbenz Guzman, Handy provides a framework for interpreting more recent events in Guatemala, especially the continuing struggle for land and democracy.