Explained: Caudillismo in Latin American history
Major events in history often lead to the creation of new words or new ideologies, that later become common place. Caudillismo is one such word. In simple terms, caudillismo refers to the type of government ruled by a caudillo or a military dictator, especially the one ruling in Latin America. It is a system of political power based on the leadership of and allegiance to a ‘strongman’ or a dictator. Caudillismo originated in ancient Spain. However, it was a popular system of rule in mid-19th century Latin America, following decolonisation from Spain. Let us find out more about the term.
How do we define Caudillismo?
The term Caudillismo has been derived from the Spanish word ‘caudillo’ meaning the head of a political faction. Between 1810 and 1825, all Latin American countries, except Cuba and Puerto Rico, gained independence from Spanish colonisers. Following this, hectares of land were distributed among former military members as rewards for their exemplary services. However, these ex-army men abused their powers and turned into local bosses, known as caudillos. The informal system of leadership and allegiance that evolved around a caudillo came to be known as caudillismo.
As it happened, these ex-servicemen assumed a paternal relationship and started training and guiding young and amateur military rebels who were not only loyal, but also surrendered their entire individuality to the caudillo. The leader sustained absolute power through a formidable and charismatic personality. Since the colonial forces had retreated, there was a power vacuum in absence of formal rules or a government. Caudillos took great advantage of this and offered protection to the common people in exchange for complete loyalty. In fact, they were strongly associated with authoritarian politics.
Rosas: A Classic Latin American Caudillo
Juan Manuel de Rosas from Argentina was considered a classic Latin American caudillo. He started his political career in the military and, later, in 1828, launched a guerrilla war against the government. Using an army of peasants and cowboys, he attacked Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina. From 1829 to 1854, Rosas controlled the press, jailing, killing, or exiling his opponents. He was able to rule for a long time, thanks to the financial support he received from Europe.
Archetypal Caudillo: Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna
Mexican general, Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, was involved in an archetypal caudillismo. Between 1833 and 1855, he served as the Mexican President as many as 11 times (officially elected six times, unofficially gained power five times). He was known to constantly shift allegiance. In fact, he first fought for the Spanish colonisers during the Mexican War of Independence. As soon as Mexico became a free state, he switched sides. In fact, in 1829, when Spain attempted to reconquer Mexico, he led the Mexican army from the front. Moreover, in 1836, he also supported Mexico during the war with USA.
Páez’s Dictatorship
Another important Caudillo from the 19th century is Venezuelan José Antonio Páez. Initially, he was a labourer on a farm, but slowly he acquired cattle and land. He joined Simon Bolívar's American independence movement and became Chief Venezuelan commander. He also led a rebellion in 1826 against Gran Colombia, a short-lived republic (1819-1830) which included Panama, Venezuela, Ecuador, and Colombia. Though he was not a president, Páez held power in Venezuela from 1830-1848, after which he was expelled. He ruled again from 1861-1862.
Despite having influential leaders, the culture of caudillismo didn't last for long. It clashed with the 19th-century idea of a free-market economy and freedom of speech. However, it flourished again in the mid-19th century. Some historians refer to Latin American leaders Fidel Castro, Rafael Trujillo, Hugo Chávez or Juan Perón as caudillos.