Anarchism in Latin America in All of Latin America, Utopian Socialism Had No Greater Influ- Ence on the Leading Romantic Writers Than in Argentina
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entered the pages of La Moda, the weekly publication run by Juan Bautista Alberdi and Juan María Gutiérrez. The term socialismo itself, meant to describe a “tendency towards sociability and hu- manitarianism,” was used for the first time in the Río de la Plata region during the Rosas era.4 Anarchism in Latin America In all of Latin America, utopian socialism had no greater influ- ence on the leading Romantic writers than in Argentina. But while it is important to note this, for obvious reasons we must put aside Ángel Cappelletti the examination of that ideological movement here.5 Between this early period and the organization of workers brought about by the First International, we should mention the little known figure of the Balearic printer Bartolomé Victoryy Suárez, who “arrived in Argentina around 1860 already with a history of engagement in social struggles.” He was associated with freemasonry; served as editor of La República (journal of the Bilbao brothers) and as director of La Crónica del Progreso and Revista masónica americana; and was the translator, as well as commentator, of Cabet’s El comunismo, although he made clear that he was not partisan to the “monastic system.” His humanistic socialism was influenced by Fernando Garrido, and the latter’s exposition of Rochdale’s experience greatly interested him.6 4 Rama, Utopismo socialista, xxx. Also see, Carlos M. Lombardi, Las ideas sociales en la argentina (Buenos Aires: n.p. 1965), 56–58. 5 On utopian socialism in general, see M. Buber, Caminos de utopia (Mexico: F.C.E., 1978); G.D.H. Cole, Historia del pensamiento socialista–I Los Precursores (Mexico: F.C.E., 1957); Ángel Cappelletti, El socialismo utópico (Rosario: Grupo Editor de Estudios Sociales, 1968). 6 D. A. de Santillán, El movimiento anarquista en la Argentina (Buenos 1990 Aires: Argonauta, 1930), 12–13. 52 1. Argentina A. Utopian Socialism Utopian socialism is a designation commonly carrying a pejorative meaning in Marxist literature and is considered a precursor to an- archism. But we must recognize that it is a precursor to Marxism as well. During the dictatorship of Juan Manuel de Rosas (1829– 52), Eugenio Tandonnet, a Fourierist, visited Buenos Aires. He got along just as well with that bloodthirsty feudal ruler as with the liberal Domingo Sarmiento, future president, whom he met on board a ship en route to Europe.1 Even though the latter seemed to have understood and appreciated the French journalist’s politics, the dictator doubtless considered them insane, as De Angelis, his biographer, would later say.2 The ideas of Saint-Simon, Leroux, and other utopian socialists had already influenced the Generation of ’37 and Esteban Echevar- ría, who referred to them in his Dogma socialista.3 Their ideas 1 Alfredo Cepeda, Los utopistas (Buenos Aires: Editorial Futuro, 1950), 50; A. Ardao, Filosofía preuniversitaria en el Uruguay (Montevideo: Claudio Gar- cía Editores, 1945), 117–35. For Fourier, see Armand-Maublanc, Fourier (México: F.C.E., 1940); C. Gide, Fourier (Paris: Sirey, 1932). 2 Carlos Rama, Utopismo socialista (1830–1893) (Caracas: Biblioteca Ayacu- cho, 1977), xxxii; see also Domingo Sarmiento, Viajes, I. Del Valparaíso a París (Buenos Aires: Librería Hachette, 1955), 174. 3 See José Ingenieros, Las direcciones filosóficas de la cultura argentina (Buenos Aires: Eudeba, 1963), 71 et seq.; A. Cedepa, Los utopistas, 44; A. Palcos, Prólogo al Dogma Socialista (Buenos Aires: n.p., 1944), xxii–iv. On Saint-Simon, see M. Dondo, The French Faustus: Henri de Saint Simon (New York: Philosoph- ical Library, 1955). 51 Acknowledgments We would like to thank by name several comrades across the Amer- icas who contributed to this introduction: José Antonio Gutiérrez D. and Pablo Abufom S. for their useful input about the history of Contents contemporary organizations in the Southern Cone; Lorena Mans and Bree Busk whose anarchist-feminist contributions make us all better militants and more accurate writers; Joshua Savala, whose Translator’s Acknowledgments 7 historical analysis is informed by his everyday praxis, and who can be counted on for his historical knowledge and attention to detail; Ángel Cappelletti, Biographical Note 8 also Scott Nappalos, who will ensure that our platformism doesnot overshadow the contribution of anarcho-syndicalists; and finally, Abbreviations 10 all those in Latin America who, past and present, make anarchism Preface 12 a viable option and this revolutionary dream not only possible, but necessary. Introduction: Anarchism in Latin America by Romina [12]] See Ricardo Flores Magón’s caustic portrayal of the Akemi & Javier Sethness-Castro 19 arrangement in Act IV of the play “Tierra y Libertad,” in Obra Why is Cappelletti’s Book Relevant for Anarchists in the Literaria: Cuentos. Relatos. Teatro, ed. Jacinto Barrera Bassols United States? ..................... 21 (Ciudad de México: Dirección General de Publicaciones, 2009), Cuba, Mexico, Nicaragua: National Liberation, Anti- 179–189. Militarism, Social Revolution . 24 Visibilizing Gender Relations . 28 Is Anarchism an Ideology that Transcends the European Experience? ...................... 33 Autonomy and Ecology in Latin America . 38 The Re-Emergence of Anarchism as a Viable Current . 42 Acknowledgments ...................... 50 1. Argentina 51 A. Utopian Socialism ..................... 51 B. Beginnings of Anarchist Propaganda, 1871 to 1889 . 53 C. 1890 to 1896 ........................ 59 D. 1897 to 1910 ........................ 62 E. 1911 to 1920 ........................ 79 F. 1921 to 1930 ........................ 85 50 3 G. 1931 to 1955 ........................ 91 declared the movement’s autonomy in search of a new constitution H. Poets, Writers, Dramatists . 95 that would meet its original thirteen demands.49 I. Ideologists, Propagandists, Polemicists . 112 Yet now, after having championed autonomous social organiza- tion as a viable alternative for over a decade, the EZLN joins its 2. Uruguay 124 comrade-representatives from the National Indigenous Congress A. Groups, Syndicates, Propaganda . 124 (CNI) in endorsing the proposal for an Indigenous Government B. Writers, Journalists, Activists . 132 Council (CIG) and in presenting the Nahua traditional healer María de Jesús “Marichuy” Patricio Martínez as CIG spokesperson, coun- 3. Paraguay 148 cilor, and candidate for the 2018 presidential elections.50 The CNI describes this move as “going on the offensive,” and it paradoxically 4. Chile 158 claims not to want to administer power but rather to dismantle it. 5. Bolivia 173 Since the announcement, Marichuy and comrades have stressed that the focus is not on the ballot but rather “organization, life, and 6. Peru 180 the defense of territory.” Yet the conclusion of the Fifth CNI in early 2017 is clear: the CIG is meant to “govern this country.”51 It 7. Brazil 202 remains to be seen how this move will play out, and how it will A. Pre-Anarchist Social Struggles . 202 affect the Zapatista movement and autonomous indigenous move- B. The Anarchist Movement Until the First World War . 206 ments elsewhere in Mexico and Latin America. We imagine that C. Anarchist Movement Since the First World War . 225 this shift toward electoralism is being met with a degree of resis- D. Literati and Propagandists . 241 tance within Zapatista ranks, particularly among the youth who have been raised with the JBG’s and la Sexta. 8. Ecuador, Colombia, and Venezuela 252 A. Ecuador . 252 B. Colombia . 254 C. Venezuela . 259 49 These are: shelter (or housing), land, food, health, education, information, 9. Panama and Central America 270 culture, independence, democracy, justice, freedom, and peace. Comité Clandes- A. Panama . 270 tino Revolucionario Indígena-Comandancia General del Ejército Zapatista de Lib- B. Costa Rica . 272 eración Nacional (CCRI-CG EZLN), “Sexta Declaración de la Selva Lacandona,” C. El Salvador . 274 June 2005. Available online: http://enlacezapatista.ezln.org.mx/sdsl-es/. 50 CNI y EZLN, “Llegó la hora,” Enlace Zapatista, 28 May 2017. Available D. Guatemala . 275 online: http://enlacezapatista.ezln.org.mx/2017/05/28/llego-la-hora-cni-ezln/. E. Honduras . 275 51 “Convocatoria a la Asamblea Constitutiva del Concejo Indígena de F. Nicaragua . 276 Gobierno,” Enlace Zapatista, April 2, 2017. Available online: http://enlaceza- patista.ezln.org.mx/2017/04/02/convocatoria-a-la-asamblea-constitutiva-del- concejo-indigena-de-gobierno-para-mexico. 4 49 nocide targeting indigenous peoples since the Spanish conquest. 10. The Antilles and Cuba 278 The rapid response of domestic and international civil society to A. Puerto Rico . 278 the uprising limited the intensity of direct repression by the Mexi- B. Dominican Republic . 280 can Army, resulting paradoxically in the PRI’s resorting instead to C. Martinique, Guadeloupe, and Haiti . 282 employing paramilitary terror against Zapatista support-bases and D. Cuba ............................283 Zapatista-sympathizing communities in Chiapas—a strategy that continues to this day. Following the inevitable breakdown of ne- 11. Mexico 303 gotiations with a racist state failing to observe the San Andrés Ac- A. The Nineteenth Century . 303 cords (1996), the EZLN focused intensely on furthering communal B. The Liberal Party and Magonism . 315 autonomy by strengthening the participatory alternate institutions C. The Workers’ Movement and Anarcho-Syndicalism . 344 that comprise the movement. These insitutions, including coopera- tives, autonomous education, the public health sector, and popular Appendix A: Chronology