Argentina under the Junta, 1976–1982

Abstract

The literature on Latin American dictatorships, whether written in North or South America, often suggests that these nondemocratic governments owe their existence to Washington. By implication, at least, when representative institutions do appear, the United States government is presumed to be asleep on the job. However simplistic, the notion is difficult to disprove, for the United States has recognized most Latin American governments, whatever their politics. And though the practice reflects resignation or habit, it can be read as approval. Moreover, since the United States has differences with most Latin American administrations, democratic ones that fail to complete their term can — and often do — point to these differences as the reason for their downfall. The classic case is the Allende regime in Chile (1970–1973) which in fact fell more of its own weight than of anything done by the United States,¹ but there are many others.

Much of the material in the chapter appeared in a different and greatly extended form in Mark Falcoff, A Tale of Two Policies: U.S. Relations with the Argentine Junta, 1976–83 (Philadelphia, Penna.: Foreign Policy Research Institute, 1989).