Sheldon B. Liss - Radical Thought in Central America

Ronald H. Chilcote, Series Editor

Dependency and Marxism: Toward a Resolution of the Debate, edited by Ronald H. Chilcote

The Fitful Republic: Economy , Society, and Politics in Argentina, Juan E. Corradi

Latin America: Capitalist and Socialist Perspectives of Development and Underdevelopment, Ronald H. Chilcote and Joel C. Edelstein

Haiti in the World Economy: Class, Race, and Underdevelopment Since 1700, Alex Dupuy

The Battle for Guatemala: Rebels, Death Squads, and U.S. Power, Susanne Jonas

Repression and Resistance: The Struggle for Democracy in Central America, Edelberto Torres Rivas

Radical Thought in Central America, Sheldon B. Liss

Available in hardcover and paperback.

Roots of Revolution: Radical Thought in Cuba

Marxist Thought in Latin America

Diplomacy and Dependency: Venezuela, the United States, and the Americas

Man, State, and Society in Latin American History, coeditor with P. K. Liss

The Canal: Aspects of United States-Panamanian Relations

A Century of Disagreement: The Chamizal Conflict, 1864-1964

Sheldon B. Liss

First published 1991 by Westview Press

Published 2019 by Routledge
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Copyright 1991 by Taylor & Francis

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Liss, Sheldon B.
Radical thought in Central America / Sheldon B. Liss.
p. cm. (Latin American perspectives series)
Includes bibliographical references (p. ) and index.
ISBN 0-8133-8208-4 (hc) ISBN 0-8133-8209-2 (pb)
1. Central AmericaPolitics and government. 2. Central America
Intellectual life20th century. 3. RadicalismCentral America
History20th century. 4. Self-determination, National.
I. Title. II. Series.
F1438.L74 1991
320.9728dc20 91-21144
CIP

ISBN 13: 978-0-367-28492-3 (hbk)

Numerous coworkers in the antiinterveritionist movement and academic colleagues encouraged me to examine the history of radical thought and action in Central America and to present my findings. For over a quarter of a century, countless people from all walks of life in Latin America have imparted their wisdom to me and graciously facilitated my explorations into inter-American relations and radical thought. In the years since the Vietnam War, with the hope of averting similar disasters in the Americas, Central American friends and acquaintances have invited me to analyze the obstacles to, and vehicles for, progress in their region. They have also asked me to convey to the people of my country their ideas, fears, beliefs, and aspirations for a brighter future.

In one way or another, through their assistance, insights, or advice, Nora Astorga, Fernando Cardenal, Susan Chester, James Cockcroft, Lisa Freeman, Richard Harris, Felipe Ixcot, Frank LaRue, Uriel Molina, Tommie Sue Montgomery, Lauren Osborn, Helen Ryan, Gary Ruchwarger, Janet Shenk, Edelberto Torres, Edelberto Torres Rivas, Philip Wheaton, Jaime Wheelock, and Ruben Zamora contributed to this work. Donald Ramos read the entire manuscript and offered extremely thought-provoking suggestions that helped me to reshape its contours. Scholarly and activist friends corrected my errors, and their ideas enabled me to clarify my thoughts, write more precisely, and present a more cohesive book. Sarah Lorenz efficiently processed hundreds of my interlibrary loan requests. Mia O'Connor and Edie Richeson typed the manuscript from my quasi-legible longhand draft, handled three sets of "final" revisions, and probably wondered why I have not entered the modern age of computers and word processors. My Westview Press editors, Barbara Ellington, Alice Colwell, and Jane Raese, turned what is generally the aggravating part of the publication process into a pleasurable experience. A final note of thanks goes to Central America's radical thinkers and writers, especially those about whom I have written. They continually make personal sacrifices to sustain others in the struggle for human dignity and social justice and are an ever-present source of inspiration.

Sheldon B. Liss

This volume deals with the radical segment of Central America's intellectual elite. These radical intellectuals contemplate, discover, clarify, or bring new ideas or theories to the attention of the intelligentsia. They challenge and question a wide range of ideals and ideologies, both abstract and concrete, as they analyze the development of society.

Intellectual life in the five Central American nations is based upon Western traditions. The term intellectuals first became widely used in France in 1898 as a consequence of the manifeste des intellectuels that protested the imprisonment of Alfred Dreyfus, The word referred to individuals with scholarly reputations, outstanding professors, or writers who allegedly represented a national political conscience. In later years intellectuals were often thought of as educated people who aspired to political influence by seeking office or influencing officeholders.