«AUTOGOLPE» IN URUGUAY IN 1973 AND THE DESTINY OF THE RIGHT-WING AUTHORITARIAN REGIME OF J.M. BORDABERRY DOI: 10.32608/2305-8773-2019-24-1-139-160
Facing the acute economic and political crisis in the end of 60s – beginning of 70s, the ruling liberal party «Colorado» made the turn to the right and presidents J.P. Areco and J.M. Bordaberry responded to the growing mass protests by introducing restrictions on traditional civil liberties, which found support among the military. The democratic rights of citizens were curtailed, and the powers of the police and the army were constantly expanding. In July 1972, the government enacted the State Security Act. Unprecedented pressure began on the left and democratic movements, united since 1971 around a coalition called the Broad Front. However, all measures of the government did not soften the crisis. Moreover, huge corruption scandals shocked the society. In June 1973, with the support of the armed forces, Bordaberry dissolved Parliament and gave the armed forces the broadest powers to carry out any action «to maintain public order». This was regarded by contemporaries as the «autogolpe» («self-coup»), which meant the introduction of military dictatorship. In June 1976, Bordaberry was forced to resign because he became a greater advocate of dictatorship than even the military officers, offering the proposal to create a regime of permanent dictatorship led by him as «President for life». The military dictatorship ruled in the country in 1973-1985, creating a powerful repressive apparatus, actively participating in the elimination of the leaders of the left and democratic parties within the notorious «Operation Condor» under the guidance of the CIA. According to «Amnesty International», Uruguay had more political prisoners per capita during the military dictatorship than any other country in the world.
References
Aldrighi C. La intervención de Estados Unidos en Uruguay, 1965-1973: El caso Mitrione. T.1-2. Montevideo: Trilce, 2007.
Appratto C. El Uruguay de la dictadura (1973-1985). Montevideo: CEIU, Fundación de Cultura Universitaria, 2004.
Azua C.R. de. Política, poder y partidos en el Uruguay de hoy. Montevideo: Universidad de la República, 1971.
Barrie B.L. Las Crisis Políticas Modernas y sus Protagonistas (1789-2016): Diccionario Enciclopédico Esencial. Montevideo: Independently published, 2017.
Bruschera O. Las décadas infames, Análisis político, 1967–1985. Montevideo: Linardi y Risso, 1993.
Caetano G., Pedro Rilla J. Breve historia de la dictadura, 1973–1985. Montevideo: Ediciones de la Banda Oriental, 1988.
Comblin J. Doctrina de seguridad nacional. T. 2., San Jose (Costa Rica): Editorial Nueva Década, 1989.
Corrupción en Uruguay: opiniones sin censura. Montevideo: Sudamericana, 1993.
Couto e Silva G. do. Geopolítica do Brasil. Rio de Janeiro: Livraria José Olimpio, 1967.
Davis W.C. Warnings from the Far South: Democracy vs. Dictatorship in Uruguay, Argentina and Chile. Berkley: Praeger, 1995.
Derecho penal militar uruguayo. T. 1. Montevideo: A.M. Fernández, 1980.
Díaz R.P. Historia económica de Uruguay. Montevideo: Taurus, 2003.
Dutrénit S. El Uruguay del exilio: gente, circunstancias, escenarios. Montevideo: Ediciones Trilce, 2006.
El presente de la dictadura: estudios y reflexiones a 30 años del golpe de Estado en Uruguay. //Ed. Marchesi A., V. Markarian et al. Montevideo: Ediciones Trilce, 2004.
Enciclopedia Uruguaya. Vol. 1–60. Montevideo: Editores Reunidos y Editorial Arca, 1968–1970.
Frega A. Historia del Uruguay en el siglo XX: (1890-2005). Montevideo: Ediciones de la Banda Oriental, 2007.
Gillespie C.G. Negotiating Democracy: Politicians and Generals in Uruguay. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1991.
Human Rights Report: Uruguay // Uruguay Country Report on Human Rights Practices for 1996. Released by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, U.S. Department of State. Washington, 1997.
Huntington S.P. The Soldier and the State: The Theory and Politics of Civil–Military Relations. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1957.
Lázara S.A. Poder militar: origen, apogeo y transición. Legasa (España): Editorial Legasa, 1988.
Memorias de la violencia en Uruguay y Argentina: golpes, dictaduras, exilios (1973–2006) / Ed. E.R. Tristán. Montevideo: Ed. Colihue, 2007.
Nordlinger E.A. Soldiers in Politics: Military Coups and Governments. Englewood Cliffs, (N.J.): Pearson College Div, 1977.
Political Economy of Poverty, Equity, and Growth: Costa Rica and Uruguay / Ed. by A. Bensigon, S. Rottenberg. N.Y.: Oxford University Press., 1993.
Rico A. Quince días que estremecieron al Uruguay: golpe de estado y huelga general: 27 de julio-11 de julio de 1973. Montevideo: Editorial Fin de Siglo, 2005.
Stepan A.C. The Military in Politics: Changing Patterns in Brazil. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2015.
Szulc T. The Twilight of Tyrants. N.Y.: Holt, 1959.
Taylor P.B. Government and Politics of Uruguay. N.Y.: Praeger, 1984
To Find the Truth Is to Overcome the Past // Amnesty International News Service, 20.5.1996.
Weinstein M. Uruguay: The Politics of Failure and Uruguay: Democracy at the Crossroads. N.Y.: Boulder and London, 1985.