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Reagan, Central America, and the Human Costs to Waging the Cold War

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Reagan, Central America, and the Human Costs to Waging the Cold War Reagan, Central America, and the Human Costs to Waging the Cold War Matthew J. MacKoul Thesis submitted to the faculty of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts In Political Science Mauro J. Caraccioli, Chair Paul C. Avey Ilja A. Luciak February 26, 2021 Blacksburg, VA Keywords: History, Latin America, Human Rights Reagan, Central America and the Human Costs to Waging the Cold War Matthew J MacKoul Abstract Since the introduction of the Monroe Doctrine in 1823, the United States has maintained a sphere of influence in Latin America. This hegemony has yielded beneficial results, such as the Panama Canal, and at times, has caused more harm than good. The later result has been the dominant outcome beginning with 1954 and the Central Intelligence Agency’s foray into Guatemala. U.S. foreign policy has enabled or sanctioned actions resulting in human rights abuses. This can be easily viewed through the Reagan Administration’s re-ignition of Cold War politics based on realist international relations theory This particular foreign policy blueprint is based on one geo-political thought: Communist Rollback. Due to this, other concerns, such as human rights, were relegated to a lesser priority. The purpose of this thesis is to determine the extent to which U.S. foreign policy undermined human rights in Central America during the decade of the Reagan Administration. By understanding the effects of Reagan’s singular focus, this thesis seeks to bring clarity to the deficiencies of current or potentially future foreign policy models. To understand the impact of U.S. foreign policy this thesis will explore three key case countries: Guatemala, El Salvador and Nicaragua. These crossroads of policy between the Reagan Administration and their Central American counterparts will dictate decisions made publicly and secretly that will be the impetus of human rights abuses that are still being uncovered thirty years later. What we will discover is that, ultimately, containment policy failed to slow socialism as an alternative to capitalism and democracy in some of these states at the expense of the human rights of native citizens. Reagan, Central America, and the Human Costs to Waging the Cold War Matthew J. MacKoul General Audience Abstract This study was conducted with the purpose of evaluating the effects of U.S. Foreign Policy upon human rights in Central America during the 1980s. The study first reviews both the Carter and Reagan Administrations' formulation of foreign policy in regard to Central America and Communist expansion. The methodology used to explore this topic is a historical review of events in Guatemala, El Salvador and Nicaragua. The importance of such a study is to ascertain whether a single-issue foreign policy focus can negatively impact the rights of ordinary citizens. By understanding how foreign policy is created and executed in this manner can bring accountability and transparency for the consequences that follow such a strategy. Acknowledgments The basis of this research originally stemmed from my interests in human rights. I chose to focus on Central America and the Reagan Administration because of the personal connections I have with Central America, and because I first became interested in politics in the 1980’s. I not only hope that this research will be a conclusion to my academic studies, but also a beginning to working with organizations that seek to promote and protect individual rights internationally. With total transparency, I could not have completed any of this without the incredible support group I have around me. First, my wife and children have allotted me the time to complete my studies and encouraged me throughout the last three years. Second, my mentor, Mauro J. Caraccioli, who has patiently given me the guidance I wanted and the advice I needed to stay focused. Finally, I would like to thank the members of my committee, Dr. Ilja Luciak and Dr. Paul C. Avey, who during such an ambiguous time, have given me so much of theirs. Thank you to everyone for your unwavering support. iv Table of Contents Abstract .................................................................................................................................. ii General Abstract ..................................................................................................................... ii Acknowledgments .................................................................................................................. iv List of Figures ......................................................................................................................... vi List of Tables ......................................................................................................................... vii Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 The Creation of Containment Policy ......................................................................................... 2 1.2 Legacies of Foreign Policy ......................................................................................................... 6 1.3 Relevance ................................................................................................................................... 8 1.4 Notes on Data and Methodology .............................................................................................. 10 Literature Review .................................................................................................................. 15 Two Competing Worldviews .................................................................................................. 27 3.1 The Carter Doctrine ................................................................................................................ 27 3.2 The Reagan Doctrine ............................................................................................................... 34 Three Manifestations of Rollback .......................................................................................... 40 4.1 Guatemala: The Silent Holocaust ............................................................................................ 40 4.2 El Salvador: The Dirty War .................................................................................................... 54 4.3 Nicaragua: The Main Event .................................................................................................... 62 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................. 68 Bibliography .......................................................................................................................... 75 v List of Figures I. Figure 3.1: Number of Killings and disappearances by year, 1970-1979, Guatemala; p. 48 II. Figure 4.1: Number of killings and disappearances by year, 1980-1989, Guatemala; p. 49 III. Figure 5.1: Number of killings and disappearances by year, 1990-1995, Guatemala; p. 52 IV. Forces responsible for human rights violations and acts of violence, Guatemala (1962- 1996); p. 53 V. Responsibility for human rights violations and acts of violence, Guatemala (1962-1996); p. 54 VI. Number of Victims of the Attacks Against Nicaragua Since 1981, By Year; p. 67 vi List of Tables I. Table 1: U.S. Economic Aid for El Salvador, 1962-1985; p. 58 II. Table 1-1: Reported Killings, 1980-1989, El Salvador; p. 59 III. Number of Victims of the Attacks Against Nicaragua Since 1981, By Year; p. 65 IV. Number of Clashes Between Sandinistas and Contras, 1981-1985; p. 65 V. Approximate # Of Contra Casualties 1981-1985; p. 66 vii Introduction The background question this thesis targets is this: Did U.S. Foreign Policy in the Reagan Administration significantly contribute to the rise in human rights violations in Central America? Is there a direct correlation between the manner in which the United States acted and the rise in brutality that occurred in a number of nations? Central America is comprised of many nations that have suffered significant political and cultural upheaval in the past century. At times, these disturbances have been accompanied by horrible abuses in human rights, including the stifling of democratic processes and loss of life. Recorded in the newspaper articles of the times, such as the February 8, 1982 feature by Barbara Crossette entitled “Central America Found To Regress On Human Rights,” one would see that there was a steady increase of brutality in the isthmus during the last decade of the Cold War. (Crossette, 1982) In the case of El Salvador, the New York Times reported that, “The Administration acknowledged that its figure of 6,116 violent deaths recorded by the United States Embassy last year was only half the number recorded by church sources within El Salvador.” (Crossette, 1982) In regard to Guatemala, the same article reported that “While the number of killings which appeared to be politically motivated ranged from 70 to 100 each month in 1980...the estimate for 1981 was 250 to 300 per month. Most of these were non-combatants.” (Crossette, 1982) One would often see numerous opinions as to why this occurred. Economies were not stable. Governments were corrupt. Illicit activities such as drug trafficking were overwhelming social institutions. These are all legitimate and understandable opinions. In some regards,
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