The Dig Oligarchy, Empire, Revolution w/ Hilary Goodfriend & Jorge Cuéllar
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Nov 3, 2024 Hilary Goodfriend, a postdoctoral researcher at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, and Jorge Cuéllar, a Dartmouth College professor, dive into the turbulent history of Central America. They discuss the rise of export-crop oligarchies and US military interventions that reshaped the region. The conversation highlights key events like the CIA-backed coup in Guatemala and the Sandinista Revolution. They also explore the socio-political impacts of American imperialism and the ongoing struggles for democracy and human rights in Central America.
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Colonial Legacy
- Colonialism created a racial caste system tied to economic exploitation.
- This system, prioritizing export commodities like bananas and coffee, left Central America underdeveloped and stratified.
Dependency and Exploitation
- Central America's agro-export economies prioritize foreign demand, neglecting domestic needs.
- This creates and sustains brutal inequality through violent exploitation and authoritarian regimes.
William Walker's Impact
- William Walker's invasion of Nicaragua exemplifies early U.S. imperialism in Central America.
- He paved the way for corporate interests like United Fruit and the Panama Canal.