Elections and/or War: Electoral Processes in the Context of Foreign Involvement in the Armed Conflict in El Salvador (1980—1985)

Abstract

The article explores the debate over the role of elections in El Salvador during the civil strife (1980—1985). It examines how external actors — the United States, the Christian democratic and social democratic governments in Western Europe and Latin America — used electoral processes to advance their strategies in the Central American conflict. Particular attention is paid to the internal dynamics of the military-civilian junta, José Napoleon Duarte's Christian Democratic Party, Roberto D'Aubuisson's far-right ARENA, and the Revolutionary Democratic Front—Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (FDR—FMLN). The opposing positions of key actors are examined, ranging from Washington's “elections without ending the war” strategy to the 1981 Franco-Mexican declaration, which for the first time recognized the revolutionary movement as a “representative political force”. The Mexican government's approach, which sought to support leftist rebels affiliated with Managua in El Salvador, deserves special attention. The Socialist International, through its concept of “flexible cooperation” and acting through the Committee on Latin America and the Caribbean, encouraged mediation efforts by Mexico and France. Organizing the 1982 and 1984 elections became a priority for the United States and European Christian Democratic parties (primarily the CDU/CSU of West Germany), which largely helped the Salvadoran Christian Democratic Right retain their power. The radical left opposition effectively relied on waging a war of attrition, attempting to discredit the idea of elections on any terms different from their own. As a result, by the mid-1980s, electoral issues on the international agenda gave way to military buildup and regional diplomatic efforts. El Salvador found itself trapped in a “polarized pluralism” with neither side being able achieve decisive advantage, which later had impact on the ways of settling the conflict.