Abstract

PALENCIA-FRENER, Sergio Guillermo. Social Rebellion and Counter-insurgency in Guatemala, 1981-1983: State Conformation and Revolutionary Potential. LiminaR [online]. 2014, vol.12, n.1, pp.161-176. ISSN 2007-8900.

By the year 1981 the Guatemalan State suffered a profound social crisis. The expansion of plantation production and military governments threatened the survival of indigenous communities in the highlands. In this work, we approach this crisis from the State concern about the confluence between community rebelliousness and guerrillas. In this way, we can understand the counterinsurgency plan as a process shown in the historical violent relationship between State and communities. Far away from the dichotomy of a war between guerrilla and a national army, we will see how the plantation and State forces created a counterrevolutionary synthesis against the upheaval of indigenous people.

Keywords : expropriation process; mediation; flux of domination; internal conflict; rebel communities.