The coup in Honduras: Conservative offensive and resistance

Abstract

On the one hand, this article analyzes the 2009 military coup from a historical perspective: we have a country with a long tradition of authoritarianism and a fragile state, where the external factor, and especially the role of the United States of America, is a fundamental and constant feature. Even the instauration of democracy in the 80s was mainly the deed of the US, backed up by the complicity of oligarchic domination and some popular support. This agreement within the oligarchic tradition, which is deeply rooted in history, provides some explanations for the coup d’état which took place on June 28 and 29, 2009. The coup seems to reveal that, although the society of Honduras has indeed changed, it has not, however, modified certain structural features. On the other hand, we have the analysis of the repercussions of the military coup and the emergence of the resistance, as well as its main challenges.