Contextualization

Theoretical Introduction

Dictatorial regimes in Latin America were decisive in the historical, social, and political development of several countries in this region during the 20th century. Understanding these regimes is essential to comprehend our national histories, current political dynamics, and international relations.

The formation of these dictatorial regimes often involved military coups, political instability, and human rights violations. Moreover, they occurred within an international context marked by the Cold War, when the United States and the Soviet Union competed for global influence.

Dictatorships in Latin America also share common characteristics such as press censorship, the use of violence as a form of repression, and the limitation of civil rights. However, each dictatorship in Latin America has its own history, with specificities that make it unique, highlighting the importance of studying each one separately while drawing parallels and connections.

Importance and Practical Application

In today's world, where democracies are constantly being challenged, studying dictatorial regimes in Latin America allows for not only a critical view of the past but also an analysis of the present and a closer look at the future.

Furthermore, understanding these regimes contributes to the structuring of critical thinking about political, economic, and social processes, empowering students to actively participate in society, defending democracy and human rights.

Practical Activity

Activity Title: Dictatorial Regimes in Latin America: A Multidimensional Perspective

Project Objective

To deepen students' understanding of dictatorial regimes in Latin America, their origins, impacts, and contemporary resonances, developing technical and socio-emotional skills. Students will produce a documentary addressing a specific dictatorial regime in Latin America.

Detailed Project Description

Students will be divided into groups of 3 to 5 people. Each team will select a country in Latin America that experienced a dictatorial regime during the 20th century. The students will research the subject, collecting data, interviews, and visual materials to develop a short documentary film (15-20 minutes long) addressing this regime. It is expected that each student will invest between five to ten hours in the project, resulting in a total work time of 15 to 50 hours per group.

Necessary Materials

• Filming equipment (a smartphone will suffice)
• Video editing software (can be a free and easily accessible one like iMovie)
• Internet access for research and material collection
• Office supplies for storyboarding

Detailed Step-by-Step

1. Selection and Research: Each group will select a country that experienced a dictatorial regime in the 20th century. Students will conduct a bibliographic research, collecting information about the origin, progression, and end of the regime, as well as its impacts on the population and resonances in current society.

2. Script and Storyboard: Based on the research, students will create a script for the documentary. This will include a detailed description of each scene, information to be addressed, and images/visuals to be included. The script should be structured with an introduction, development, and conclusion.

3. Filming and Editing: After the script is finalized, students will film each scene as described in the script and storyboard. Once all scenes are filmed, students will edit the film using the chosen software.

4. Production of the Report: Each group must produce a written report complementing the documentary. This report will follow the structure: Introduction, Development, Conclusions, and Bibliography.

   • Introduction: The group must contextualize the theme, its relevance and real-world application, as well as the objective of this project.

   • Development: The group must describe the theory behind the chosen dictatorial regime, explain the activity in detail, indicate the methodology used, and finally present and discuss the results obtained.

   • Conclusion: Here, the group must conclude the work by summarizing its main points, stating the learnings obtained, and drawing conclusions about the project.

   • Bibliography: The group must indicate all sources they relied on to work on the project, such as books, web pages, videos, etc.

5. Presentation: Finally, the groups will present their documentaries and reports to the class and answer any questions that arise.

The documentary and the report will be the project's deliverables. They should be closely linked and complement each other - the documentary will show the students' practical understanding of the topic, while the report offers them a chance to demonstrate their theoretical and critical understanding of the chosen dictatorial regime.