Orígenes de la política radical en América Latina

Abstract

In this article the author condenses the results of research in which he analyzes, through a comparative perspective, how three radical democratization projects in Latin America arise, evolve, and are thwarted at the start of imperialism. José Martí (1853-1895) in Cuba, Juan B. Justo (1865-1928) in Argentina, and Ricardo Flores Magón (1874-1922) in Mexico led intellectual and political efforts meant to overcome the obstacles of national integration bequeathed by the colonial past, expressed in an ideology on which the actions of their parties were based. These political projects departed from differing ideological premises, but were guided by a common democratic objective. The author hypothesizes that their comparison sheds light on the historic profundity and the rigidity of the class constraints that impede the formation of the nation under imperialism in Latin America.