W. John Green 
A History of Political Murder in Latin America 
Killing the Messengers of Change

This expansive history depicts Latin America’s pan-regional culture of political murder. Unlike typical studies of the region, which often focus on the issues or trends of individual countries, this work focuses thematically on the nature of political murder itself, comparing and contrasting its uses and practices throughout the region. W. John Green examines the entire system of political murder: the methods and justifications the perpetrators employ, the victims, and the consequences for Latin American societies. Green demonstrates that elite and state actors have been responsible for most political murders, assassinating the leaders of popular movements and other messengers of change. Latin American elites have also often targeted the potential audience for these messages through the region’s various ‘dirty wars.’ In spite of regional differences, elites across the region have displayed considerable uniformity in justifying their use of murder, imagining themselves in a class war with democratic forces. While the United States has often been complicit in such violence, Green notes that this has not been universally true, with US support waxing and waning. A detailed appendix, exploring political murder country by country, provides an additional resource for readers.

Tabla de materias

Preface and Acknowledgments

Map of Mexico and Central America

Map of South America

Key Terms and Acronyms by Country

Introduction: A Political Culture of Murder




Part I. The Practice of Political Murder in Latin America



1. Targets and Victims



2. Dirty War Mechanics



3. Bodies of the Slain




Part II. Justifications, Associations, and Consequences

4. Dirty Warriors on Dirty War



5. International Collaborations and the Conflicted Roles of the United States



6. The Enduring Appeal and Continuing Challenge of Political Murder in Latin America and Beyond



Appendix—Political Murder in Latin America: Individual Country Narratives



Notes

Bibliography

Index

Sobre el autor

W. John Green is the Editor and Director of the
Latin American News Digest and the author of
Gaitanismo, Left Liberalism, and Popular Mobilization in Colombia.