Preview

Class Divide: A Catalyst for Conflict within Nations

Better Essays
Open Document
Open Document
2647 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Class Divide: A Catalyst for Conflict within Nations
Class divide has long been a catalyst for conflict within nations. History is littered with small groups of elites ruling over the masses. Time and time again, conflict occurs when the divide reaches a tipping point and the ruling elite bourgeois class and the proletariat masses must resort to violence in order to gain, or retain their control. A long history of stronger nations exploiting weaker nations has created a cycle in which a small minority controls most of a nations wealth, creating oligarchies willing to retain power in any way possible. One such nation is the South American country of Chile. Chile has a long history of a small group of landowning bourgeois controlling the country. (Neuman) A cyclic system in which the bourgeois first use their wealth to gain power through democratic means, then as soon as the proletariat class gains control of the democracy, the oligarchy uses any means possible to overthrow the democratic government and establish their power. Constitutions written by the military have been forced on the masses on three separate occasions in Chile’s long history of “democracy”. The Constitutions of 1833, 1925, and 1980 were military attempts to give the illusion of democracy in order to gain legitimacy. (Couso) The current democratic government of Chile uses the Constitution of 1980 in order to exploit the economic reforms put in place by the military government. (Couso) Once again perpetuating this cycle of exploiting the poor to promote the interests of the rich. A history of government promoted class conflict in Chile has created a scenario in which the US backed bourgeois class, and their militaristic oligarchy, can violently shock a country into a complete economic overhaul which only deepens the class divide, in addition to tricking the proletariat class into forgetting how to bring about societal change through social reforms. Andrés Wood uses his movie, Machuca, to remind both the bourgeois elite and the proletariat masses of


Bibliography: COUSO, JAVIER. "Trying Democracy In The Shadow Of An Authoritarian Legality: Chile 's Transition To Democracy And Pinochet 's Constitution Of 1980."Wisconsin International Law Journal 29.2 (2011): 393-415. Academic Search Premier. Web. 5 Apr. 2013. Martín-Cabrera, Luis, and Daniel Noemi Voionmaa. "Class Conflict, State Of Exception And Radical Justice In Machuca By Andrés Wood."Journal Of Latin American Cultural Studies (13569325) 16.1 (2007): 63-80. Academic Search Premier. Web. 5 Apr. 2013. Neuman, W. Lawrence, and Richard Earl Ratcliff. "Class Segments: Agrarian Property And Political Leadership In The Capitalist Class Of Chile." American Sociological Review 41.6 (1976): 1006-1029. SocINDEX with Full Text. Web. 5 Apr. 2013. Philippa Williams, et al. "The Shock Doctrine: The Rise Of Disaster Capitalism - By Naomi Klein." Geographical Journal 174.3 (2008): 284-287. Academic Search Premier. Web. 5 Apr. 2013. Power, Margaret. 2004. “More Than Mere Pawns: Right-Wing Women in Chile.” Journal of Women 's History 16, no. 3: 138-151. Spence, Jack. "Class Mobilization And Conflict In Allende 's Chile: A Review Essay." Politics & Society 8.2 (1978): 131-164. Historical Abstracts. Web. 5 Apr. 2013. Wood, Andres. 2004. Machuca. Chile: Menemsha Entertainment.
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Satisfactory Essays

    Weavers of Revolution
    • 910 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Weavers of Revolution

    In Peter Winn's Weavers of Revolution, a factory in Santiago, Chile fights for their independence against the Chilean government of the 1970's. While this rebellion is going on, presidential elections are taking place and Salvador Allende is the presidential candidate which represents the common people. The relation between Allende and the people he represents is a unique one because at first this class, the working class, helps and supports Allende to become president, but then both parties realize their different plans for the future and the working class actually contributes to the downfall of Allende's presidency.…

    • 910 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Chapter 32 Ap World History Outline
    • 2244 Words
    • 9 Pages

    Chapter 32 Ap World History Outline

    2. In Brazil a coup in 1964 brought in a military government whose combination of dictatorship, use of death squads to eliminate opposition, and use of tax and tariff policies to encourage industrialization through import substitution came to be known as the “Brazilian Solution.” Elements of the “Brazilian Solution” were applied in Chile byte government of Augusto Pinochet, whose CIA-assisted coup overthrew the socialist Allende government in 1973 and in Argentina by a military regime that seized power in1974.…

    • 2244 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Eric Roorda’s the Dictator Next Door
    • 1250 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Eric Roorda’s the Dictator Next Door

    The entire book centers on a single recurring theme: the foolishness of a democracy supporting dictators. Roorda maintains that “the dependence on dictators to attain the traditional U.S. goals of stability and cooperation in Latin America meant having to ignore those instances when the strongmen themselves incited unrest and conflict” (146-147). The U.S. military is partly to blame, since it trained Trujillo and treated him as a favored protégé, while diplomats saw through the dictator’s pageantry and disapproved of his methods (Trujillo returned their contempt). Roorda places heavy blame on the Roosevelt administration for allowing Trujillo to remain in power for the simple reason that Trujillo represented stability (even though his conduct at home and his occasional bloody attacks against neighboring Haiti disrupted Dominican-American relations). Roorda describes U.S. logic with Trujillo as “Dominican stability made him practical to deal with,” even if that meant not questioning the ethics of backing brutal regimes that did not threaten American dominance or prosperity.…

    • 1250 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Best Essays

    Economic Turmoil of the Nicaraguan Revolution
    • 1618 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Economic Turmoil of the Nicaraguan Revolution

    To what extent did the U.S. led trade embargos of the 1980’s and the U.S. funded contra rebel groups affect the failed Nicaraguan economy of the mid to late 1980’s?…

    • 1618 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Best Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    AP World Comp/Con Essay
    • 602 Words
    • 2 Pages

    AP World Comp/Con Essay

    In the early twentieth century, social unrest in the lower classes of society arose in both Mexico and Russia. In both countries the cause for this uprising was due to government corruption due to unfair labor laws along with the growing gap between the rich and the poor. This social unrest resulted in the growing hope for revolution to bring both areas better equality across the social classes. In the end, both countries succeeded in instating land redistribution policies to try to lessen the division between the upper and lower classes. While both nations made an attempt for a more equal society, Russia’s new government used radical methods in order to approach a classless society and Mexico’s did not. The reason for this more extreme equality movement is due mainly to Russia’s Bolshevik Revolution being bases loosely on Marxism ideas, which proposed a classless and society with complete and utter equality. When looking at Mexico, the Mexican Revolution did not want to instate a Marxism based society, instead focusing on acquiring a more fair class-based system.…

    • 602 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    La Raza Student Cultural Event
    • 1716 Words
    • 7 Pages

    La Raza Student Cultural Event

    This document was titled “Nuestra Lucha Permanente por Dignidad, Independencia y Sobernía” (Our Permanent Struggle for Dignity, Independence, and Sovereignty). During September 1999, RSCC planned to show the three-part documentary La Batalla de Chile which captures the political unrest leading up to the violent counter-revolution against Chile’s peaceful socialist revolution. This film was intended to educate viewers on Chilean history and the RSCC planned to show it in three parts throughout the month. In mid-September, La Raza scheduled a presentation on “Human Rights in Latin America: An Analysis of Chilean Dictator Augusto Pinochet’s Case” to be presented by Professor Kathryn Sikkink. Sikkink’s presentation analyzed how the “on-going” case surrounding the Chilean dictator would influence human rights claims in international law. The cultural center also held multiple panel discussions throughout the month of September. The first, on September 13, 1999, was on the topic of “Social Conditions of Chican@/Latin@ Workers in the Americas” and was led by two professors who had conducted extensive research on the topic. Their discussion intended to provide insight into the multiple social costs of contemporary globalization needs. The second panel discussion took place on September 15 and analyzed contemporary…

    • 1716 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Machuca Sociology
    • 527 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Machuca Sociology

    Throughout the entire film Machuca directed by Andrés Wood we see the social and political unrest of Chile during the 1970’s. While it is all presented from the prospective of school children, we get glimpses of violence, extreme poverty, and unfair distribution of wealth. The first scene from the film that is representative of Chile’s social climate is when Gonzalo first visits the slums with Pedro. When they arrive at the outskirts of Pedro’s community, Pedro gets off the bike and says that he will go from there himself.…

    • 527 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Chile Transition To Democracy Essay
    • 1843 Words
    • 8 Pages

    Chile Transition To Democracy Essay

    As demonstrated in this essay, the democracy in the Chilean government broke down because of the low levels of economic development, which resulted in the inequality between social classes. This inequality led to President Salvador Allende’s attempt to reduce the power of the wealthy and to create socialized sectors of the economy. However, despite his attempts the economy continued to weaken and the resistance among Chile’s elites against Salvador Allende grew. Because of this resistance, the government’s ability to govern became crippled which resulted in a…

    • 1843 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Social Class: Fundamental Aspect In Society Around The World
    • 81 Words
    • 1 Page

    Social Class: Fundamental Aspect In Society Around The World

    Social Class is a fundamental aspect in society and can be found in all societies around the world. Aspects such as education, health, wealth, where you live, what do you do with yourself all contribute to where you as a member of society fit in. If you are a student attending a private school, living in Toorak with very wealthy parents you would be considered part of the ‘upper class’ in society, where people would generally look more highly of…

    • 81 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Tree of Red Stars
    • 682 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Tree of Red Stars

    There is a very distinct social class system in Uruguay. This class distinction starts at the top with the landowners. This group is not at the top because of their wealth, they are there because they have the most land and power. The next tier in the class system is the business class. These are the people that own and operate all the businesses in the community. Unlike the United States, military comes next in the social chain, because they hold much power and control over the community. Next come agricultural workers, who do not hold power in society because they do not own a significant amount of money or land. The bottom tier of the social system is the beggars, or "bottom feeders," They have no money, land, power or responsibilities, which in turn brings them no respect as peers.…

    • 682 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Let Me Speak Analysis
    • 1358 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Let Me Speak Analysis

    The military controlled Bolivia so that the people “can’t unite and form a common front” to easily manipulate individuals in believing that the people should be content about what they have because there are people who suffers even more. The reason behind the repressiveness of capitalism is that it requires individualism so that the government can exploit the people easily. Capitalism is hegemonic but has dominance over the people because of its militarized government. Chungara talks about various events where the militant rummaged their houses and disrupts the peace in Siglo XX. She talks about the time when their union leaders were “ambushed taken prisoner” because the government found out about a union assembly that is about to take place (Chungara and Viezzer, 80). Chungara also talks about the San Juan massacre that occurred on June 27, 1967 “because the government found out that there was going to be a plenary meeting of all the secretaries-general” and “the government didn’t want it to take place” (Chungara and Viezzer, 116). The San Juan massacre proves that the government does not value the human capital as well because they mercilessly kill innocent people just to prevent them from organizing and takes away their right to a better life. Although the people only want better living conditions, the government did not care enough to allow them to have a freedom to speak up about their needs. The MNR is also too greedy to spend their wealth on the people so they leave them in scarcity. Domitila is against capitalism because of its manipulative and violent…

    • 1358 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Mexican American Revolution Essay
    • 1035 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Mexican American Revolution Essay

    Back in the year 1910, middle-class workers in Mexico protested the dictatorship of Porfirio Diaz who ruled for more than 30 years. (Knight, historytoday.com) It was the first major social revolution of the twentieth century. Like most dictatorships, power and wealth were only given to a select few, and injustice was everywhere. Diaz was not always a dictator, though. He was once a hero in an earlier revolution. Sadly, he didn’t know when to end his rule and kept his rule through bribery and rigging elections. Things such as the length of Diaz’s rule, the socioeconomic inequality, famines and food shortages, and political repression caused the people of Mexico to have a revolution. After the rule of Diaz, people thought that things would get…

    • 1035 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The Chilean Revolution
    • 1207 Words
    • 5 Pages

    The Chilean Revolution

    For example, the textile industry monopoly "...was facilitated by ethnic ties and social links" and was controlled "...by three families..." Though the textile industry was its own sector within the Chilean economy, it could be a prime example of how wealth concentrated itself within the hands of a tiny population at the top of a capitalistic society. To make matters increasingly dire for the poor workers and peasants at the bottom of society, the "clans" that dominated Chile economically had no intention at spreading the wealth nationally, or as in the case of the Yarur's, compensating the workers a fair rate of pay. If the workers of the Yarur Mill were to receive fair treatment, they were going flip the socioeconomic pyramid on its point and put the workers on the top by…

    • 1207 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    French vs. Mexican Revolution
    • 1662 Words
    • 7 Pages

    French vs. Mexican Revolution

    even more, while the middle class had little and the lower class had nothing, this is what played a huge cause in…

    • 1662 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The Mexican Revolution
    • 1032 Words
    • 5 Pages

    The Mexican Revolution

    Many nations across time and the world have experienced a revolution. From the American revolution to the French revolution, history has proven conflict can engage a nation at any moment. Tanter explains that two possible scenarios, changes in the economic development and the level of education are likely to cause revolutions (Tanter 264). A revolution can be composed of a group of individuals who are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice in exchange for change in the existing government. This group of people will stop at nothing until they have completely taken over the territory they wish to control. What was the reason and who played a critical role in the Mexican revolution? Mexican political leaders and the common people would play an instrumental role in the positive or negative impact of the Mexican revolution.…

    • 1032 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More

Related Topics