Dr. Yasmin Calmet

On 29 November 2023, Henry Kissinger passed away at the age of 100. He was one of the most controversial and important players in US security and foreign policy and a shrewd thinker in global diplomacy. His policies stirred up some opposition, while his strong and effective leadership against the specter of communism shaped the course of world history. Kissinger was a realpolitik genius, whose legacy in both political and academic spheres had a tremendous impact on Latin America.Kissinger was a naturalized US citizen; he came to the US with his German-Jewish family fleeing Nazism and religious intolerance under the German National Socialist Party. Kissinger studied political science at Harvard University, where he pursued an academic career as a professor and director of the Defense Studies Program. He worked as a security consultant for US intelligence agencies in the Eisenhower, Kennedy, and Johnson administrations before becoming National Security Advisor and then Secretary of State in the Nixon and Ford governments. Kissinger continued to advise presidents George Bush, Clinton and, briefly, George W. Bush after the 9/11 attacks in various capacities.During the Cold War, Kissinger practiced a balance of power policy through strengthening Israel-U.S. ties, managing closer diplomatic relations with China (Nixon recognized Taiwan as Chinese territory in 1972), and spearheading arms control dialogue with the Soviet Union. In the last case, he was able to find openings to mitigate tensions between the two powers. However, some of Kissinger’s legacy could also be considered harmful, since he sought to make the US the single predominant power that forced others to follow suit. Kissinger was responsible for the bombardment of Cambodia and Laos,&nbsp;military coups in Chile and Argentina, and Operation Condor in South America.Kissinger worked to overthrow socialist governments and strengthen the US presence in South America. With the help of the CIA, he destabilized and overthrew Salvador Allende in Chile and Arturo Illia in Argentina. Kissinger’s support of military dictatorships in these countries aimed to ensure US hegemony and prevent the expansion of communism. In 2001, declassified documents revealed that Kissinger had indeed agreed to carry out the coups in Argentina and Chile. In one speech, Kissinger said that Pinochet had done "a great service to the West in overthrowing Allende." These dictatorships caused a domino effect in the region and led to other military dictatorships that served as control and surveillance mechanisms against communism.The Chilean and Argentinean military governments were among the most violent in South America. Political parties were banned in addition to press censorship and violent repression; it is estimated that more than 30,000 people were disappeared or murdered in Argentina and more than 40,000 in Chile. In the economic sphere, these Latin American governments were dependent on the United States, and performed false "miracles" while implementaing neoliberal economic models that exacerbated inequality in both countries.This operation aimed to increase arms sales in the region, elevate the role of the military as guardians of the political order, and foster greater US involvement in Latin America. This operation facilitated coordination between Brazilian, Chilean, Uruguayan, Paraguayan, Argentinean, and Bolivian military dictatorships to suppress anyone who resisted the dictatorial regimes or supported communism in those countries. Operation Condor was responsible for the disappearance and murder of more than 40,000 people in the region.Furthermore, the preparation and execution of this operation gave the US the opportunity to develop strategic sites in the region and promote nuclear programs. Brazil received the most support in this regard. At the time, Kissinger argued that Brazil was a pillar of US policy development in Latin America and would be an important strategic ally to sustain cooperation among South American nations and help US companies exploit the nuclear industry in Brazil.Kissinger was responsible for shaping what we now think of as geopolitical theory. His theories and actions pushed Latin American political science and international relations to develop new ways of thinking about international politics, realpolitik, and the importance of leadership in diplomatic relations. In addition, his views on the world order have prompted debate on whether having the same key actors in the international political arena is viable for the resolution of diplomatic conflict. Another important debate about Kissinger’s theory critiques his Western-centric view of modernity in which allies were seen as democratic, cooperative and diplomatic, while enemies were not.Kissinger was a beloved and hated genius. He was pragmatic in his attempts to advance the interests of the United States around the world, and a true Machiavellian prince of political strategy that the current world order is still trying to understand. In his realpolitik, Kissinger theorized about all he considered necessary, and left behind a tremendous and controversial legacy. &nbsp;

What Remains of Kissinger's Impact in Latin America?