Che becomes the second Boliviar

nastle

Banned
If a few of south american countries like paraguay, bolivia, columbia had been overthrown by Che guevara and replaced by comminst govts in the 60s and 70s after long protracted civil wars what would have been the impact on the outcome of the cold war ? if any ?

A south american war involving fascist and communist states
 

nastle

Banned
Obviously this will involve Che being less idealistic and more resourceful than the OTL
 
It will destroy the social fabric of such nations and lead to a almost perpetual state of anarchy. It will take decades to restaure some order after one side can enforce a decently managed government.
 
With luck, Che would impose a distinctly Latino version of communism which lacks the most miserable parts of Marxist-Leninist-Stalinist communism.
The United Fruit Company and many mining companies would be nationalized.

Central governments would be no more popular than Aztecs.
Many provinces would quietly ignore the capital city and resume growing the three sisters while ignoring export markets, mining, etc.
Many South American backwaters would revert to the poor tribal farmers that they were before the accursed Spanish arrived.
 
I love me some Che, but his ultimate fault was his idealism.

He was so far left and revolutionary his presence in Boliva and Angola had the unfortunate effect of empowering violent and repressive reactionaries, supported whole sale by the US government.

Even in a long, protracted civil war, the reactionary element, which would include the deadly cartels, would all unite against him. Realistically, you'd more likely have an Indonesian genocide in Columbia then a Che win.
 

nastle

Banned
I love me some Che, but his ultimate fault was his idealism.

He was so far left and revolutionary his presence in Boliva and Angola had the unfortunate effect of empowering violent and repressive reactionaries, supported whole sale by the US government.

Even in a long, protracted civil war, the reactionary element, which would include the deadly cartels, would all unite against him. Realistically, you'd more likely have an Indonesian genocide in Columbia then a Che win.
If he had some success he might moderate his stance ? How will the USSR see this ? ANy transatlantic support ? From India ? Nasser of Egypt the socalled Nonaligned countries ?

Growth of a more virulent form of fascism in South America ?
 
I assume Guevara got a personality transplant or something. After all, he was ratted to the Bolivian authorities by the same people he believed he was fighting for.

Anyway, you get a mess - a serious one, probably competing with the Second Congo civil war (aka, the African World War) if not outright outsurpassing it: Sucessful communist dictatorships in Bolivia, Paraguay and/or Colombia would entice and provide safe havens for communist guerrillas in the rest of the continent. So not only the governments of the remaining capitalist nations would crack down hard on any left leanining individual (think Pinochet or Videla, but slightly sooner) - they are also likely to go to war with the communist nations, which would be weakened by the civil wars. And they'll do it brandishing nationalistic speeches so even after peace finally arrives, the hatred will last for generations.
 
If he had some success he might moderate his stance ? How will the USSR see this ? ANy transatlantic support ? From India ? Nasser of Egypt the socalled Nonaligned countries ?

Growth of a more virulent form of fascism in South America ?

A particularly fascinating period in the whole Che saga was his brief years in Cuba after the overthrow of Batista.

Here was a man, an idealist, at the head of a successful communist guerrilla campaign in the US' back yard and now had power to create his island utopia.

He had a beautiful wife, growing family, and was a mega international celebrity.

And what did he did he do?

He freely gave it all up to live and fight in hellish jungles of Angola.

No way, no how would Che ever moderate his ideals until ALL of the Third World was living under socialist rule.

His idealism is unmatched, and quite inspiring, but ultimately foolhardy. This is what caused his downfall in OTL and would in any ATL unless your going the Not-Ler route.

****

In so far as your other questions, remember this was post detente USSR were talking here. A growing communist threat in South America would only threaten global stability and trade relations with the US i they openly supported it. Also Che was too left for even Khrushchev and certainly Brezhnev.

Other countries? maybe Nasser but again how much support could they supply from half way across the globe? Libya could hardly provide support in Angola and they were on the same continent.
 
Last edited:
Look how successful he was. (Not very.)

Now, he's somehow supposed to pull off a successful revolution in several countries?

I really don't think he stands even the remotest chance. He didn't have the skills or support or anything else to pull it off.

Despite his astounding popularity in the '70s among left leaning hippy wannabes, he really wasn't either heroic or effective.
 
If a few of south american countries like paraguay, bolivia, columbia had been overthrown by Che guevara and replaced by comminst govts in the 60s and 70s after long protracted civil wars what would have been the impact on the outcome of the cold war ? if any ?

A south american war involving fascist and communist states

America would dick in, lots of coups and the word that can describe the situation is: mess.
 
Top