Narratives of Horror, American Intervention in the Salvadorian Civil War

Abstract

Narratives of Horror, American Intervention in the Salvadorian Civil War By Maritza Martinez This project involves discovering how the Salvadoran civil war impacted the lives of the country’s citizens. The goal is to tell a previously untold narrative that examines the lives of the underrepresented people. The first phase of this project provides a frame of reference and examines American foreign policy in Latin America during the Cold War period. The economic and ideological underpinnings which influenced American intervention are considered. The influence of the Soviet Union and neighboring nations on the development of communism are also examined. The emergence of the FMLN insurgency group and the ARENA’s rise to power are analyzed. The main part of the project draws heavily on personal interviews with Salvadorans who lived through the war and shared their personal experiences. Additionally, photographs taken during the war are used to further probe into the lives of civilians, rebels, and government officials. This project uses various secondary sources to explore American involvement in El Salvador and primary sources to portray the Salvadoran struggle.