Latin America in the 1940s

Latin America in the 1940s: War and Postwar Transitions delves into the transformative effects of World War II and the Cold War on Latin America's political and social landscape. This decade, marked by "global shocks," reshaped the region’s international relations, replacing deep ties with Europe with unprecedented dependence on the United States. Internally, the period witnessed a fleeting shift toward democracy, labor union growth, and populist movements in many nations, only to see these gains rolled back by the late 1940s. The book explores how these upheavals created the framework for Latin America's political struggles and economic strategies in the decades that followed.

Through a multidisciplinary lens, the volume examines the interplay of external pressures and internal dynamics in shaping the era’s outcomes. Key chapters highlight the economic transformations fueled by industrialization and population growth, alongside the challenges of uneven development and class tensions. Political case studies reveal a spectrum of experiences, from Brazil's oscillation between authoritarianism and populism to Uruguay's democratic resilience. The text also considers the lasting impact of U.S. Cold War policies, which curtailed reformist movements and cemented conservative regimes. Ultimately, the book situates the 1940s as a pivotal watershed, emphasizing its role in crystallizing the region's integration into a new global order and laying the groundwork for its future political and economic trajectories.

This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press’s mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1994.