In Stephen Schlesinger's book Bitter Fruit, the 1954 coup in Guatemala is discussed, with a particular focus on the U.S actants involved, the larger hemispheric implications of the coup, and the use of foreign policy and propaganda to circumvent Latin American nationalism in favor of American corporatism. I argue that The United States fear of communism, conflation of nationalism with communism, and loss of economic supremacy in the Western Hemisphere were the impetus to invade Guatemala under false pretenses. Through the use of propaganda, masterful (and unethical) political manuevering, economic pressure, foreign dictators, and indirect (sometimes more direct) CIA intervention, the U.S was able to oust a democratically elected leader. I, …show more content…
What was an expressely Guatemalan show of nationalism, the United States twisted into tacit approval of communism, with politicians as high up as President Eisenhower himself referring to the country as a "Soviet beachhead", despite Arbenz and his government's complete lack of contact with the Soviet Union. During the dictatorial reign of Guatemala's Jorge Ubico, a bond was forged. In 1936, a 99 year agreement was signed by Ubico and United Fruit, permitting a new plantation and furthering the influence of an organization that for all intents and purposes controlled an overwhelming amount of the developing country's economy. Ubico's favorable tax exemptions led the company to flourish as it took over all of Guatemala's railroad, and just as important, the key port city of Puerto Barrios. The company's intimate relationship with Ubico's government afforded them special treatment which contributed to their omnipresence in the region. Following the 1944 Guatemalan Revolution and subsequent ousting of Ubico, Juan Jose Arevalo rose to power. "With its outspoken support for the peasantry and its determination to free Guatemala from the domination of foreign interests, United Fruit was a most obvious target." (72) …show more content…
They began currying favor on the left via Edward Bernays, a well-known liberal and public relations expert. At Bernays' urging, various journalists were sent over, often on UFCO payroll, to cover the "company's troubles in Guatemala." More often than not, these journalists were given highly doctored and orchestrated accounts of what was happening directly from UFCO themselves. One such example found Bernays in the office of New York Times publisher Arthur Sulzberger. "Bernays talked in detail about the growing dangers of communism in the Guatemalan government and urged the NYT to report on the situation as soon as possible. The following month, Sulzberger wrote Bernays that he was sending another journalist . . . to cover the fruit company's troubles in Guatemala." (86) As word spread among American media of a possible communist uprising in the Central American nation, more and more news outlets paid attention, from Time and Newsweek to the Christian Science Monitor and Miami Herald. Planting these seeds of doubt and misinformation ultimately proved crucial in their (second) coup attempt being a success. After winning over the left-wing, UFCO worked on the right. Then head of the company Sam Zemurray called upon noted conservative P.R firm John Clements
In 1898, three big events got in the way of any peaceful resolution in Cuba. The New York Journal received a letter from the Spanish minister in Washington, Enrique Dupuy de Lo...
Even after the strong pressure by US Secretary of State, the Organization of American States resolves to condemn what they believed was communist infiltration in the Americas. Under the control of Colonel Carlos Castillo Armas, he received a strong financial and logistic support from the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to prepare his Army in Honduran territory to attack Guatemala. The CIA's involvement had been approved by Eisenhower as a way to stop what they considered a spread of Communism in the Americas. In June, 1954 the troops of Carlos Castillo crossed the Honduran-Guatemalan border and began their attack against Arbenz government. By this time not only was Arbenz internationally isolated but he had also lost much support from his own army and peasant population. Most of the Guatemalans felt they were in a very weak position compared to the invading army, after they heard from an ally radio that reported a larger invading army and the bomber that dropped some bombs around Guatemala City. The demoralized population simply resigned to be defeated by Castillo. Arbenz himself was hard hit when the invasion began. When he realized that any kind of resistance would only bring more deaths and very little success for his movement he decided to do what was best and decided to announce
Seth Holmes ethnography Fresh Fruit, Broken Bodies is a startling window into the start reality of the lives of Migrant workers and their role in the agricultural/food industry in this country. It illustrates the hardships that Migrant workers face trying to earn a living. It shows the obstacles and oppression they face, all while trying to survive in a system that is designed explicitly to exploit them. Fresh Fruit, Broken Bodies is a study on the ethics and politics of the food industry. Holmes is a physician-anthropologist, so his work really highlights all aspects, including the medical nature, of the problems poor migrant workers face on a day-to-day basis. Holmes completely immerses himself in the culture of the Triqui workers, including
The Cold War was fought between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, both struggling to assume a hegemonic role in the world while simultaneously attempting to undermine the power of the other. This war was fought by proxy in a variety of developing nations, including Vietnam and Guatemala, and was attributed to the differing ideologies of communism and socialism, and capitalism and democracy. Gods Go Begging (1999), by Alfredo Vea, examines the United States’ involvement in the Vietnam War, while Francisco Tobar uses The Tattooed Soldier (1995) to explore the Guatemalan Civil War and the role the United States played in the governmental coup that precluded the war. Both authors show through specific descriptions and narrative lines that while the
During the second half of the twentieth century, when the Cold War was on its midst, the United States played an important role in world affairs. The increasing military power that the United States had during the Cold War, allowed it to influence the political decisions that many countries had during this time. The United States directly opposed the idea of communism, which the Soviet Union promoted. This conflict between this two great powers, lasted for five decades, and it tremendously affected the political ideologies of the world. Both countries tried to push their political and economic interest to as many nations as they could, especially those close to their borders. During this time, Guatemala was undergoing a social revolution with communist ideas. The revolution happened as a response to the social injustice committed by the United Fruit Company. The United Fruit Company started to lose land, due to a land reform passed b...
Among the multitude of American corporations, few stand out like the United Fruit Company. Reviled the world over, United Fruit was one of America’s most notable early multinational corporations. Operating all over Latin America and peddling their produce across the globe, United Fruit would get its start in Costa Rica, a small Central American country nestled between Nicaragua and Panama. The decision to attempt to modernize Costa Rica by General Tomás Guardia would prove to be a fateful one that forever altered the course of Central America.
Ubico, a former minister of war, carried out unprecedented centralization of the state and repression of his opponents. Although he technically ended debt peonage, the 1934 vagrancy law required the carrying of identification cards and improved the landlords’ position in disputes with workers.... ... middle of paper ... ...
In Bitter Fruit the character of Mikey physically represents the barrier of the past to the present. While he did not experience apartheid violence, he is a child of rape performed under the regime. His body is a literal figure of violence. When Mikey discovers his history, he recognizes that “he can no longer think of the future without confronting his past” (Dangor 131). Rather than attempting to reconcile the two, Mikey is influenced by his golden rule “look to the future, always” and decided like Marion’s parents, to annihilate his past (Dangor 131). For the crime of his conception, he shoots his father. In killing his mother’s rapist, he is obliterating the hold of the past rather than accepting it. Rather than uniting anyone, he
Throughout the telegram, Peurifoy perpetuates the underhanded idea that Jacobo Arbenz, the president of Guatemala, aligned himself with communists. Stunning inconsistencies manifest themselves throughout Peurifoy’s argument when one observes his warrant, or reasons and basis for arguing. The United States were focusing so closely on allegations of communism in Guatemala due to the fact that Arbenz had nationalized large holdings of land a large U.S company, the UFCo., possessed. Knowing they had undeclared the value of their land to receive reductions on taxes for many years, Arbenz compensated the United Fruit Company with the value that had been declared for their land. This did not sit well with many high up in government in the United States, especially with the director of the CIA, Allen Dulles, who at one point held a position on their
This previously inexistent economy is what allowed Trujillo to attain and strengthen his power in the Dominican Republic. Oddly enough, the same peo...
Klein, throughout various accounts of U.S. involvement overseas, explains that the U.S. commonly engages in a practice of ‘shock therapy.’ The U.S. brings bloodshed and warfare to foreign nations in order to restructure their economies and governments to serve U.S. interests. In the case of Chile, Klein argues that the U.S., in the midst of Cold War paranoia, wanted to maintain its political and economic hegemony in South America. Washington accordingly whipped the Chilean army into an anti-Allende, anti-communist frenzy, bringing about the bloodshed of ‘the Caravan of Death’ as well as the years of tyrannical military dictatorship. Also significant was the fact that the neoliberal economics implemented in Chile were taught to Chilean economists of the junta by Americans at the University of Chicago.
Prior to the sinking of the U.S.S. Maine, the demands of Cubans for their independence from Spanish rule made U.S. intervention more of a necessity. With the high tension because of possible war with Spain, a majority of Americans desired to avoid war and settle peacefully. When Spanish military commander, Valeriano Weyler y Nicolau, instituted a concentration camp style system which forcibly confined Cubans in garrison towns, where thousands died from disease, starvation, and exposure, they grew many American sympathizers.... ... middle of paper ...
Santos Munguia put political pressure on the only distributor in the market and began getting better prices for the shipment of Guajilote's wood. Even though Munguia turned the company around he was often revered, feared, and hated at the same time. Munguia handled and made all decisions for Guajilote Cooperativo. Even though Munguia makes all the decisions and the employees are fine with it, there should also other members of the cooperativo involved in the decision-making. This way the cooperative would not look like a dictatorship. There was also talk that Munguia was paying himself and his second in charge (his nephew) more then the other members in the cooperative.
The rebellion against Nicaraguan leader Anastasio Somoza Debayle was supported by virtually all sectors of Nicaraguan society. The FSLN (Sandinista National Liberation Front) spearheaded the revolt through the support of the poor, the working class, students, businessmen, professionals, the Roman Catholic Church and various oppositional political parties. Somoza had alienated all of society including, “the upper class with his disastrous economic policies which threatened the economic well-being of the propertied and entrepreneurial class.” (Booth, 125) He also alienated t...
Third world countries became the perfect battleground for cold war proxy battles during the early 1940’s to late 1990’s. United States wanted to flex its political muscle and try to curtail the spread of Soviet Communism in the developing nations. Most of the nations in developed world had already made their political and socio-economic stand regarding the form of governance and leadership pursued. Underdeveloped nations in Asia, Latin America and Africa were still vulnerable and easily influenced in terms of ideologies and political direction. Most nations in Latin America like Chile were recovering from colonialism and thus logistic, economic and political aid from powerful nations to propel their economies which made it easy for Americans and Russians to act as their “saviors’”. The quest for global dominance had intensified between United States and USSR and the shift was focused to developing nations like Chile. Both Americans and Russians used different mechanisms to enhance their propaganda and support the regimes which were friendly to them and used any means necessary to topple hostile regimes. CIA used covert operations in Chile and most of the Latin nations to plant their puppet leaders in order to safeguard their foreign policy interests and maintain dominance. Military coups and social unrests were planned, orchestrated and executed with the assistance of CIA. The research paper tries to critical analyze the impact of the cold war on Chile and influence of United States.