Overview

The Historical Dictionary of the Dirty Wars covers the period 1954-1990 in South America, when authoritarian regimes waged war on subversion, both real and imagined. The term dirty war (guerra sucia), though originally associated with the military dictatorship in Argentina from 1976 to 1983, has since been applied to neighboring dictatorships in Paraguay (1954-1989), Brazil (1964-1985), Bolivia (1971-1981), Uruguay (1973-1985), and Chile (1973-1990). Although the concept is by no means peculiar to Latin America-the term has become a byword for state-sponsored repression anywhere in the world-these regimes were among its most notorious practitioners. In the mid-1970s they joined forces-along with Ecuador and Peru-to create Operation Condor, a top-secret network of military dictatorships that kidnapped, tortured, and disappeared one another's political opponents. Their death squads operated both nationally and internationally, sometimes beyond the region. This third edition of Historical Dictionary of the Dirty Wars contains a chronology, an introduction, appendixes, and an extensive bibliography. The dictionary section has over 400 cross-referenced entries on the countries themselves; guerrilla and political movements that provoked (though by no means exonerated) governmental reaction; leading guerrilla, human-rights, military, and political figures; local, regional, and international human-rights organizations; expressions of cultural resistance (art, film, literature, music, and theater); and artistic figures (filmmakers, novelists, and playwrights) whose works attempted to represent or resist the period of repression. This book is an excellent access point for students, researchers, and anyone wanting to know more about the dirty wars of South America

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9781442276413

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'Dirty war' (guerra sucia) was coined in reference to asymmetric civil strife whereby 'authoritarian regimes waged war on subversion' with military and paramilitary forces against civilians. Now used to describe conflicts around the world, the phrase was first applied in Latin America-the particular focus of this volume for the period 1954-90. It is an eminently important subject, and the authors have done a magnificent job bringing a well-written, carefully researched work together. . . .Libraries that own only the first edition will certainly benefit from acquiring an update. The second edition added Bolivia, Brazil, and Paraguay to the countries featured in the first, which encompassed only Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay. . . .Kohut and Vilella have presented a more complete picture of the subject matter with expanded and revised entries, chronology, and introduction. Libraries collecting comprehensively in Latin American studies will want to purchase the latest release. Summing Up: Recommended. All readership levels. * CHOICE * The editors bring detailed knowledge and expertise on the dictatorships that governed these countries during the indicated time period.... This book is an excellent reference work on this specific topic and time period in South America. * American Reference Books Annual *

The editors bring detailed knowledge and expertise on the dictatorships that governed these countries during the indicated time period... This book is an excellent reference work on this specific topic and time period in South America. American Reference Books Annual

Author Information

David Kohut is Associate Librarian at Saint Xavier University, Chicago. His subject areas include Latino/Latin American Studies and Spanish language and literature. Olga Vilella is a Professor in the Department of Language and Literature at Saint Xavier University, Chicago, where she specializes in Latin American literatures of the 19th and 20th centuries and directs the Latino/Latin American Studies Program. Her research interests include Latin American modernismo and literary responses to dictatorship in 20th-century Latin America.

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