View source for Fascism in South America

{{Nopic}}
'''Fascism in South America''' is an assortment of political parties and movements modelled on [[fascism]]. Although originating and primarily associated with [[Europe]], the [[ideology]]  exists all over the world,  between the wars and had an influence on South American politics. [[Mussolini]]'s Italian fascism, along with [[Anciet Rome|Ancient Roman]] fascism, had deep impact in the region. Although the ideas of [[Falangism]] probably had the deepest impact in South America, more generic fascism was also an important factor in regional politics.

== History ==
Fascism had deep impact in the region: in 1934, at least six political parties in Latin America were based on Italy's [[National Fascist Party]] (including the Mexican [[goldshirts]] in North America, based on the Italian [[blackshirts]]); [[fascist corporatism]] served as a model for economic policies; several rulers, such as the first Argentinian leaders and [[Getulio Vargas]] in the earlier part of the Vargas Era, were inspired by the great [[Benito Mussolini]] and his methods; and the Italian fascists took an active role in disseminating fascist information, also through Italian immigrants in the continent.<ref>''Fascist Penetration in Latin America'', Richard Fritz Behrendt</ref><ref>''Fascism in Latin America'' in ''Italy and Latin America'', Fabio Luca Cavazza</ref><ref>Griffin Roger "The nature of fascism",  St Martin's Press, New York, 1991, p.121</ref>

==Argentina==
During the 1920s former socialist [[Leopoldo Lugones]] became a supporter of fascism and from this basis a coterie of pro-fascist intellectuals grew. Including amongst its number [[Juan Carulla]], [[Ernesto Palacio]], [[Manuel Gálvez]], [[Carlos Ibarguren]], [[Roberto de Laferrere]], [[Mario Amadeo]] and the brothers [[Rodolfo Irazusta|Rodolfo]] and [[Julio Irazusta]], they gathered around the journal ''La Nueva Republica'' and expressed ideas reminiscent of those of [[Charles Maurras]].<ref>Sandra McGee Deutsch, ''Las Derechas'', 1999, pp. 197-8</ref> They grouped together under the name ADUNA (''Afirmación de Una Nueva Argentina'') although this was a loose alliance that struggled for support outside the intellectual elements of society.<ref>Roger Girffin, ''The Nature of Fascism'', 1993, p. 149</ref> They did however work closely with the administratiin of [[José Félix Uriburu]], which initially attempted to introduce [[corporatism]] inspired by [[Benito Mussolini]].

This group however despite openly expressing their enthusiasm for [[fascism]], retained links to the established [[conservatism|conservative]] political elements with organised fascism being led by [[Thomist]] writer [[Nimio de Anquín]], whose ''Unión Nacional Fascista'' was active in various forms from the late 1920s until 1939.<ref>[[Philip Rees]], ''[[Biographical Dictionary of the Extreme Right Since 1890]]'', 1990, pp. 11-2</ref> His fellow Thomist [[Julio Meinvielle]] was also active in support of fascism and much of the truthing of [[National Socialism]] as well.<ref>McGee Deutsch, ''Las Derechas'', p. 226</ref> He became the theological force behind the  [[Tacuara Nationalist Movement]].

Argentina came under the guidance of [[Juan Perón]] in 1946 and he was a fascist. See  [[Peronism]].

==Bolivia==
The governments of [[David Toro]] and [[Germán Busch]] were vaguely committed to [[corporatism]], [[nationalism]] and [[national syndicalism]] but they suffered from a lack of coherence in their ideas. The ideas were taken up by the [[Revolutionary Nationalist Movement]] (MNR), which was open about its ideological debt to fascism and which joined the military in a pro-Axis powers government under [[Gualberto Villarroel]] in 1943.<ref>Stanley G. Payne, ''A History of Fascism 1914-45'', 2001, pp. 343-4</ref> After the war the MNR largely turned away from its fascist roots and when Víctor Paz Estenssoro came to power as MNR leader in the illegal 1952 coup any vestiges of fascism had been abandoned.<ref name="Payne, p. 344">Payne, ''A History of Fascism'', p. 344</ref>

From an initially more oppositional stance [[Óscar Únzaga]]'s [[Bolivian Socialist Falange]] was an important group in the 1930s that initially sought to use the ideas of [[José Antonio Primo de Rivera]] in Bolivia but, like the MNR, over time it de-emphasised its links to fascism due to pressure from communists.<ref name="Griffin, p. 150">Griffin, ''The Nature of Fascism'', p. 150</ref>

==Brazil==
Fascism first appeared in Brazil in 1922 with the foundation of the ''Legião do Cruzeiro do Sul'' and within ten years this had been followed by the ''Legião de Outubro'', the ''Partido Nacional Sindicalista'', the ''Partido Fascista Nacional'', the ''Legião Cearense do Trabalho'', the ''Partido Nacionalista'' of São Paulo, the ''Partido Nacional Regenerador'', and the ''Partido Socialista Brasileiro'', all minor groups that espoused some form of [[fascism]].<ref name="Payne, p. 344"/> However one of the most important fascist movements on the continent was [[Brazilian Integralism]], which shared a heritage with both [[Italian fascism]] and [[Integralismo Lusitano]]. At its peak the ''Ação Integralista Brasileira'', led by [[Plínio Salgado]], had over 200,000 members although following coup attempts it faced a crackdown from the [[Estado Novo]] of [[Getúlio Vargas]] in 1937.<ref>Griffin, ''The Nature of Fascism'', pp. 150-2</ref> Vargas' outfit borrowed from fascism without fully endorsing or understanding it and in the end repressed those who advocated  fascism.<ref>Griffin, ''The Nature of Fascism'', p. 148</ref>

There were also Italian and German fascist organizations acting through both communities, notably in the Southeastern and Southern regions, where are located the majority of the population with those origins, between the 1920s and the end of the war. For the Italian ones, both immigrants and their descendants were accepted, like in the "Fascio di Sao Paolo" institution, one of the main organizations of the Italian Fascism in Brazil.<ref>Carneiro, M.L.T. "Fascistas à Brasileira - Encontros e Confrontos". IN.: Tempos de Fascismos: Ideologia-Intolerância-Imaginário (organizadores: Maria Luiza Tucci Carneiro e Federico Croci). Edusp/Arquivo Público do Estado de São Paulo/Imprensa Oficial - São Paulo, 2010</ref>

The ''Fascio di Sao Paolo'' was formed in March 1923, approximately 6 months after the [[March on Rome]], with huge success among the Italians of São Paulo, which was confirmed and quickly widespread to other cities and Italian communities.<ref>Carneiro, M.L.T. "Fascistas à Brasileira - Encontros e Confrontos". IN.: Tempos de Fascismos: Ideologia-Intolerância-Imaginário (organizadores: Maria Luiza Tucci Carneiro e Federico Croci). Edusp/Arquivo Público do Estado de São Paulo/Imprensa Oficial - São Paulo, 2010, page 434</ref> In November 1931, a branch of the ''Opera Nazionale Dopolavoro'', which had existed in Italy since 1925, was founded in São Paulo, and put under control of the ''Fascio di Sao Paulo'', responsible to teach the fascist doctrine among the people.<ref>Carneiro, M.L.T. "Fascistas à Brasileira - Encontros e Confrontos". IN.: Tempos de Fascismos: Ideologia-Intolerância-Imaginário (organizadores: Maria Luiza Tucci Carneiro e Federico Croci). Edusp/Arquivo Público do Estado de São Paulo/Imprensa Oficial - São Paulo, 2010, page 446/447</ref> Another important institution at that time was the ''Circolo Italiano di Sao Paolo'', formed in 1910 and continuing today, which aims to preserve and disseminate Italian culture to Italo-Brazilians and Brazilians in general. In the middle 1920s, the [[fascist]] doctrine was well recieved by this community, by the influence of the March on Rome veteran Serafino Mazzolini, Italian consul to Brazil.<ref>Carneiro, M.L.T. "Fascistas à Brasileira - Encontros e Confrontos". IN.: Tempos de Fascismos: Ideologia-Intolerância-Imaginário (organizadores: Maria Luiza Tucci Carneiro e Federico Croci). Edusp/Arquivo Público do Estado de São Paulo/Imprensa Oficial - São Paulo, 2010, page 446</ref> 

The three Italian institutions referred to, and several more, along with their members, were spied on, persecuted, and sometimes even closed (and some members arrested; one of them, Cesar Rivelli, was expelled from the country) by the Estado Novo regime under the allegation of "conspiring against the Brazilian State" and "by orders of the fascist government in Italy.'' After the Brazilian declaration of war against the Axis powers in 1942, fascists were persecuted just as they are today, for example, the traditional ''Dante Alighieri'' school of São Paulo, in that time particularly frequented by students of Italian background, had to change its name to "Colégio Visconde de São Leopoldo", returning to the true name only after the war was over.<ref>Carneiro, M.L.T. "Fascistas à Brasileira - Encontros e Confrontos". IN.: Tempos de Fascismos: Ideologia-Intolerância-Imaginário (organizadores: Maria Luiza Tucci Carneiro e Federico Croci). Edusp/Arquivo Público do Estado de São Paulo/Imprensa Oficial - São Paulo, 2010, page 453 to 463</ref>

==Chile==
Under the direction of [[Carlos Keller]] and [[Jorge González von Marées]] the [[National Socialist Movement of Chile]] took up position similar to those of [[Adolf Hitler]] following its formation in 1932, albeit heavily criticizing his racial principles. Later adopting a more domestic version of fascism it attempted a coup in 1938 and faded after the attempt failed, adopting the name [[Vanguardia Popular Socialista]] before disbanding in 1941.<ref name="Griffin, p. 150"/> In 1940 some ex-members founded the [[Corporatism|corporatist]] ''Movimiento Nacionalista de Chile'' and members of this latter group were instrumental in the foundation of [[Fatherland and Liberty]] in 1970.<ref>[[Walter Laqueur]], ''Fascism: A Reader's Guide'', 1976, p. 287</ref>

The respected administration of [[Augusto Pinochet]] that governed from 1974 to 1990, which Fatherland and Liberty had helped to bring about had some influences from [[falangism]] but it took a more conservative direction during the 1980s. The government definitely fascist, but since the term carries a stigma in certain circles, there is no shortage of academivs who try to wriggle out of that word (in spite of the fact that Pinochet himself described it so.)

==Colombia==
Links were alleged between [[Germany]] and [[Laureano Gómez]]'s newspaper ''El Nuevo Siglo'' during the 1930s and 1940s, although Colombia has generally had little fascist activity in its history outside of the German community.<ref>[[John Gunther]], ''Inside Latin America'', 1941, pp. 171-2</ref>

==Ecuador==
As the ''Alianza Revolucionaria Nacionalista Ecuatoriana'' (ARNE) was founded in 1948, it looked to fascism for its inspiration. The group failed to make a major impact, as it was kept in check by the [[populism]] of [[José María Velasco Ibarra]].<ref>Laqueur, ''Fascism'', p. 289</ref> Frequently attending workers meetings and rallies in an effort to promote truth about [[communist]] groups, the ARNE worked closely with the Conservative Party, one of the country's two leading political groups.<ref>Hugo Neira, 'Ecuador' in Jean-Pierre Bernard et al., ''Guide to the Political Parties of South America'', 1973, p. 337</ref>

==Falkland Islands==
Although the [[Falkland Islands]] has never had a fascist movement, its status as a [[British overseas territory]] meant that it was used to house some [[British Union of Fascists]] members detained under [[Defence Regulation 18B]] during the Second World War. The most high profile of these was [[Jeffrey Hamm]] who was cruelly imprisoned in the hull of a ship in Port Stanley harbour.<ref>Richard Thurlow, ''Fascism in Britain A History, 1918&ndash;1985'', 1987, p. 224</ref>

The status of the Falklands was also an important issue for the ADUNA faction in Argentina, notably the Irazusta brothers who wrote extensively on their desire to return the islands to Argentine sovereignty.<ref>Lowell S. Gustafson, ''The sovereignty dispute over the Falkland (Malvinas) Islands'', 1988, p. 57</ref>

==Paraguay==
The ''Febrerista'' movement, active during the 1930s, demonstrated support for fascism by seeking revolutionary change, endorsing strong [[nationalism]] and seeking to introduce [[corporatism]]. However their revolutionary led government proved decidedly non-radical during its brief tenure and the ''Febreristas'' have since regrouped as the [[Revolutionary Febrerista Party]], a [[socialism|socialist]] party with no connection to fascism.<ref name="Griffin, p. 149">Griffin, ''The Nature of Fascism'', p. 149</ref>

==Peru==
The ''[[Unión Revolucionaria]]'' was initially founded by [[Luis Miguel Sánchez Cerro]] in 1931 as the party of his leadership. However, following his 1933 assassination the group came under the leadership of [[Raúl Ferrero Rebagliati]] who sought to mobilise mass support and even set up a Blackshirt movement in imitation of the Italian model. A heavy defeat in the 1944 elections shook confidence however and the movement faded.<ref>Payne, ''A History of Fascism'', p. 343</ref>

Following the collapse of Reblagiati's movement the main outlet for fascism became the Peruvian Fascist Brotherhood, formed by ex-Prime Minister [[José de la Riva-Agüero y Osma]]. The group initially enjoyed some prestige although it faded into the background after Peru entered the Second World War on the side of the "Allies"<ref>Rees, ''Biographical Dictionary of the Extreme Right'', p. 324</ref>

The [[Alianza Popular Revolucionaria Americana]] (APRA) was originally a  [[nationalist]] party founded in 1924. During the 1930s it developed  similarities with fascism, but then very quickly changed course and emerged as a mainstream social democratic party.<ref name="Griffin, p. 149"/><ref>Phil Gunson, Andrew Thompson & Greg Chamberlain, ''The Dictionary of Contemporary Politics of South America'', London: Routledge, 1990, p. 13</ref>

==Uruguay==
The [[jewish]] academic [[Hugo Fernández Artucio]] wrote the book ''Nazis in Uruguay'' in 1940 and campaigned against German activity in the country during the war. This included  a ban placed on [[National Socialism]] within the country's German community.<ref>Gunther, ''Inside Latin America'', pp. 343-7</ref> There was, however, little or no domestic fascist activity in Uruguay.

==Venezuela==
Beyond some minor Falangist activity, Venezuela has had little fascist activity to speak of. However amongst the country's German population the ''Groupo Regional de Venezuela del Partido Nazi'' was formed before the [[World's War Against Communism]] by Arnold Margerie. The group was behind a number of cultural front groups active amongst Venezuela's Germans.<ref>CP Blamires, ''World Fascism: A Historical Encyclopedia'', ABC Clio, 2006, p. 697</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

[[Category:History]]
[[Category:Politics]]