Political Violence and the Construction of National Identity in Latin America

WILL FOWLER is Reader in Latin American Studies and Head of the Department of Spanish at the University of St Andrews, UK. PETER LAMBERT is Senior Lecturer in Spanish and Latin American Studies at the University of Bath, UK.

'This intriguing book reminds us of the continuing power of national imaginaries to generate and orchestrate violence, and of how much violence is an integral part of not only authoritarian, but also liberal, regimes. Fowler and Lambert have put together an impressive interdisciplinary collection that combines illuminating theoretical overviews with wide-ranging and engaging case studies. An important book for all students of nationalism and violence.' - Peter Wade, Professor of Social Anthropology, University of Manchester 'Fowler and Lambert have put together a fascinating collection of essays on one of the most contested topics in the current debate about Latin America: the role of political violence in the construction of national identity. This collaborative text by experts on Latin America offers rich insights into the historical roots of nationalism in the region, as well as a theoretical framework for assessing the most recent political developments from Mexico to Argentina.' - Abdiel Onate, Professor of History, Director of the Latin American Area Studies Program, San Francisco State University 'Each selection in this collection is original and presents associations between political violence and national identities in modern Latin America. The internal coherence and theoretical cogency of the volume reveals an innovative approach for organizing Latin American history in general, which will stimulate both classroom discussion and specialist debate. You could construct a course around this book.' - Timothy E. Anna, Distinguished Professor of History, University of Manitoba

• Preface The Children of the Chingada; W.Fowler Myth, Manipulation and Violence: Relationships between National Identity and Political Violence; P.Lambert Languages of Nationalist Violence: Notes on Mexican Hispanophobia; M.A.Landavazo Lucha and Cubanía: The Reconstruction of a Cuban Historical Identity through the Idea of Revolutionary Struggle; A.Kapcia Contesting Imagined Communities: Gender, Nation and Violence in El Salvador; M.Hume National Identity and Violence: The Case of Colombia; M.Dennis National Identity and Political Violence: The Case of Venezuela; J.Buxton Political Violence, Cinematic Representation and Peruvian National Identity: La Boca del Lobo and La Vida es una Sola; S.Barrow Violence, the Left and the Creation of Un Nuevo Chile; F.Dominguez The Effects of State Violence on National Identity: The Fate of Chilean Historical Narratives Post-1973; M.Mullins 'Muero con mi patria!' Myth, Political Violence and the Construction of National Identity in Paraguay; P.Lambert Some Historical Observations on the Relationship between Nationalism and Political Violence in Argentina; M.Goebel