“Political factors were the main reason for the failure of elected leaders.” Discuss.

The question requires that candidates offer a considered and balanced review of the statement that political factors were the main reason for the failure of elected leaders in Latin America during 1945–1980. Reasons for failure may predate the timeframe but they must be clearly linked to the issue raised in the question. To argue in favour of the statement, candidates may refer to the lack of democratic tradition in many countries of the region, in contrast to the strength and organized structure of the military. They may also refer to corruption and inefficiency of elected leaders as political factors leading to their failure. Indeed, candidates may suggest that the military usually justified intervention claiming to be preserving political stability, at a time of crisis. Other relevant factors that contributed to such crisis may be addressed, for example economic (failure to deal with economic modernization), social (inequality and lack of opportunity) and ideological factors (influence of the Cuban Revolution), but with a focus on the issue in the question. Candidates may also examine USA’s role in contributing to the failure of elected leaders. Candidates’ opinions or conclusions will be presented clearly and supported by appropriate evidence.

The premise that political factors were the main reason for the failure of elected leaders was not often selected and there were a number of candidates who incorrectly applied Castro or Pinochet as an "elected leader." Better responses usually applied the rile of the US in using the State Department and CIA to remove Allende in Chile or Arbenz in Guatemala.