Historical Dictionary of the Dirty Wars

by David Kohut, Olga Vilella

Overview

The Historical Dictionary of the Dirty Wars coversthe period 1954–1990 in South America, when authoritarian regimes waged war on subversion, both real and imagined. The term “dirty war” (guerra sucia), though originally associated with the military dictatorship in Argentina from 1976 to 1983, has since been applied to neighboring dictatorships in Paraguay (1954–1989), Brazil (1964–1985), Bolivia (1971–1981), Uruguay (1973–1985), and Chile (1973–1990). Although the concept is by no means peculiar to Latin America—the term has become a byword for state-sponsored repression anywhere in the world—these regimes were among its most notorious practitioners. In the mid-1970s they joined forces—along with Ecuador and Peru—to create Operation Condor, a top-secret network of military dictatorships that kidnapped, tortured, and disappeared one another’s political opponents. Their death squads operated both nationally and internationally, sometimes beyond the region.

This third edition of Historical Dictionary of the Dirty Wars contains a chronology, an introduction, appendixes, and an extensive bibliography. The dictionary section has over 400 cross-referenced entries on the countries themselves; guerrilla and political movements that provoked (though by no means exonerated) governmental reaction; leading guerrilla, human-rights, military, and political figures; local, regional, and international human-rights organizations; expressions of cultural resistance (art, film, literature, music, and theater); and artistic figures (filmmakers, novelists, and playwrights) whose works attempted to represent or resist the period of repression. This book is an excellent access point for students, researchers, and anyone wanting to know more about the dirty wars of South America

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781442276413
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	11/16/2016
Series:	Historical Dictionaries of War, Revolution, and Civil Unrest
Edition description:	Third Edition
Pages:	494
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.10(h) x 1.20(d)

About the Author

David Kohut is Associate Librarian at Saint Xavier University, Chicago. His subject areas include Latino/Latin American Studies and Spanish language and literature.

Olga Vilella is a Professor in the Department of Language and Literature at Saint Xavier University, Chicago, where she specializes in Latin American literatures of the 19th and 20th centuries and directs the Latino/Latin American Studies Program. Her research interests include Latin American modernismo and literary responses to dictatorship in 20th-century Latin America.

Table of Contents

Editor’s Foreword Jon Woronoff
Preface
Acronyms and Abbreviations
Map of South America
Chronology
Introduction
THE DICTIONARY
Bibliography
About the Authors
Editor’s Foreword Jon Woronoff
Preface
Acronyms and Abbreviations
Map of South America
Chronology
Introduction
THE DICTIONARY
Bibliography
About the Authors

Editorial Reviews

‘Dirty war’ (guerra sucia) was coined in reference to asymmetric civil strife whereby ‘authoritarian regimes waged war on subversion’ with military and paramilitary forces against civilians. Now used to describe conflicts around the world, the phrase was first applied in Latin America—the particular focus of this volume for the period 1954–90. It is an eminently important subject, and the authors have done a magnificent job bringing a well-written, carefully researched work together. . . .Libraries that own only the first edition will certainly benefit from acquiring an update. The second edition added Bolivia, Brazil, and Paraguay to the countries featured in the first, which encompassed only Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay. . . .Kohut and Vilella have presented a more complete picture of the subject matter with expanded and revised entries, chronology, and introduction. Libraries collecting comprehensively in Latin American studies will want to purchase the latest release.

Summing Up: Recommended. All readership levels.” —Choice Reviews

“The editors bring detailed knowledge and expertise on the dictatorships that governed these countries during the indicated time period…. This book is an excellent reference work on this specific topic and time period in South America.” —American Reference Books Annual

From the Publisher

‘Dirty war’ (guerra sucia) was coined in reference to asymmetric civil strife whereby ‘authoritarian regimes waged war on subversion’ with military and paramilitary forces against civilians. Now used to describe conflicts around the world, the phrase was first applied in Latin America—the particular focus of this volume for the period 1954–90. It is an eminently important subject, and the authors have done a magnificent job bringing a well-written, carefully researched work together.. . .Libraries that own only the first edition will certainly benefit from acquiring an update. The second edition added Bolivia, Brazil, and Paraguay to the countries featured in the first, which encompassed only Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay.. . .Kohut and Vilella have presented a more complete picture of the subject matter with expanded and revised entries, chronology, and introduction. Libraries collecting comprehensively in Latin American studies will want to purchase the latest release.

Summing Up: Recommended. All readership levels.

Choice Reviews

The editors bring detailed knowledge and expertise on the dictatorships that governed these countries during the indicated time period…. This book is an excellent reference work on this specific topic and time period in South America.

American Reference Books Annual

‘Dirty war’ (guerra sucia) was coined in reference to asymmetric civil strife whereby ‘authoritarian regimes waged war on subversion’ with military and paramilitary forces against civilians. Now used to describe conflicts around the world, the phrase was first applied in Latin America—the particular focus of this volume for the period 1954–90. It is an eminently important subject, and the authors have done a magnificent job bringing a well-written, carefully researched work together.. . .Libraries that own only the first edition will certainly benefit from acquiring an update. The second edition added Bolivia, Brazil, and Paraguay to the countries featured in the first, which encompassed only Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay.. . .Kohut and Vilella have presented a more complete picture of the subject matter with expanded and revised entries, chronology, and introduction. Libraries collecting comprehensively in Latin American studies will want to purchase the latest release. Summing Up: Recommended. All readership levels.

Choice

‘Dirty war’ (guerra sucia) was coined in reference to asymmetric civil strife whereby ‘authoritarian regimes waged war on subversion’ with military and paramilitary forces against civilians. Now used to describe conflicts around the world, the phrase was first applied in Latin America—the particular focus of this volume for the period 1954–90. It is an eminently important subject, and the authors have done a magnificent job bringing a well-written, carefully researched work together.. . .Libraries that own only the first edition will certainly benefit from acquiring an update. The second edition added Bolivia, Brazil, and Paraguay to the countries featured in the first, which encompassed only Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay.. . .Kohut and Vilella have presented a more complete picture of the subject matter with expanded and revised entries, chronology, and introduction. Libraries collecting comprehensively in Latin American studies will want to purchase the latest release.

Summing Up: Recommended. All readership levels.

CHOICE

In the 'dirty wars,' from 1954 to 1990, governments and the military in Latin America tortured and killed citizens with impunity, or just made them disappear. This is an updated edition of a work originally published in 2003 by the authors as part of the series Historical Dictionaries of War, Revolution, and Civil Unrest. It expands coverage from three to six countries—Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay. The more than 400 entries cover countries, people in the ruling government or military, those who were crushed by it, political parties, human-rights organizations, guerrilla movements, and artistic expression. Examples of other topics include Catholic Church; Kissinger, Henry; Museum of Memory; and Operation Condor (a network of the military from the countries). Extensive cross-references are noted in bold. The entries are accurate, balanced, and clearly written. A list of acronyms and abbreviations is helpful, and a concise introduction provides a good summary. The work is enhanced by an extensive, well-organized bibliography, mainly English works, which includes government reports, nongovernmental organization reports, testimonials, and recent books and films. Although the work is expensive, it will be very useful for Latin American studies in academic and large public libraries.

Booklist

This concise yet compact 2nd edition offers useful information on the most important people and events associated with the "dirty wars" from 1954-1990 in South America. . . . This is a solid and necessary work on a period in South American history that has garnered a great deal of attention from social scientists.

American Reference Books Annual (ARBA)