
POLC99
LEC 04 – Jan. 31
Revolutionary Struggle II: El Salvador and Peru
1)Video – 60 min (Fire in the Mind)
2)The FMLN + Shining path Compared
3)Explaining Second Generation Revolutions
2) THE FMLN AND SHINING PATH COMPARED
Similarities:
Strong militarily; seriously challenge the government
Maoism; both had strong peasant support
Violence/repression/causalities
Both lasted from 1980-1992
Both suffered from massive U.S. military aid to the governments in power
Inequality and structural changes were desired
Political context: democracy
Differences:
El Salvador Truth Commission: 80% of deaths were blamed on government
Peru: 54% of deaths blamed on Shining Path; 44.5% by government
Shining Path waged a war on civilians; FMLN waged a war on military and
government bodies
Leadership: FMLN multi-class coalition; Shining Path was ideologically dogmatic
and hierarchical
El Salvador: negotiated end to conflict; Peru: military defeat
www.notesolution.com

Funding and International Allies were very different. FMLN has Cuba and
Nicaragua as allies; Shining Path had no international allies
3)EXAMINING SECOND GENERATION REVOLUTIONS
Wiekham-Crowley’s sociological model: seeks to explain the social conditions for the
expansion and success of indigenous revolutions
Necessary and Sufficient Conditions
1)Strong and sustained peasant support
2)Sufficient military strength
3) Mass loyalty to the revolutionary movement
McClintock’s Agency Model
Focuses on the revolutionary organization’s ideology strategy, structure and
leadership
El Salvador: timing; missed these historical movements
Peru: leadership; too hierarchical and concentrated
1)HOW DO THE REVOLUYTIONARY PROCESSES IN EL SALVADOR AND PERU
COMPARE?
2)IS DEMOCRACY THE ANTIDOTE TO REVOLUTIONARY SUCCESS IN LATIN
AMERICA? DISCUSS THIS QUESTION IN LIGHT OF THE CASES OF CUBA,
NICURAGUA, EL SLAVADOR AND PERU.
www.notesolution.com