Political conviviality and the role of opposition and opponents in late twentieth-century Latin American political discourse

Abstract

Latin American history is full of examples of violence perpetrated against opponents of political regimes. Obvious instances include the multiple forms of violence carried out by military dictatorships as well as democratic governments throughout the region. At the same time, there have been cases where diverse political parties and politicians reached agreements to resolve a variety of issues. Many Latin American political leaders even considered the role of the opposition in their doctrines, writings, and memoirs. The fact that many leaders said one thing and acted differently does not overshadow the importance opposition movements and opponents played in shaping their vision of Latin America’s political landscape. This chapter focuses on the role of opposition and opponents in late twentieth-century Latin American political discourse and practices. Drawing upon notions of fraternity, or the “forgotten principle” of the French Revolution, as an interpretive lens, it seeks to understand how leading political actors imagined the opposition in their discourses and practices. After laying out a conceptual framework of political fraternity, I will trace its roots and importance in Latin American politics. My analysis will point out its limitations and criticisms and explore its links with conviviality. To conclude, I will present an overview of two examples to personify the argument.