The question that this investigation will focus on is “What were the causes of the Guatemalan Civil War?”, while also analyzing to what extent did each of these issues affect Guatemala and its outcome after the war as a whole. Although guatemala had many detailed points of conflict, This question is significant, in that it is necessary in understanding the fundamental detailed internal conflict that led to the eventual outcome of the Guatemalan civil war. The scope of the investigation focuses on the effect of local government on indigenous leftist rebel groups and the pursued power and beliefs of particular leaders during the guatemalan civil war from 1960-1996. Investigation …show more content…
In the situation of guatemala one of the most important factors to focus on was what each dictator wanted to gain and why, while also analyzing their purpose due to the current situation. After the assassination of Carlos Castillo Armas Guatemalan politics then dissolved into a series of coups and battles for power that were fought between guerrilla forces, each with their own ideology of how the country should be controlled, which started the countries thirty six year war. In the case of guatemala many civilians had this idea of “things had to get worse before they were to get better” and nationalistic ideas of the country began to spread around due to the constant conflict of parties. An example of “worse” before “better” was the foundation of what guerilla groups believed, or their reasons to push back against the guatemalan government to take power. This was due to two former military officers who worked with the Guatemalan Workers Party or PGT, they had the ideological goal of restoring democratic ideals to guatemala, but in order to achieve this they would start a campaign of terrorism under the name of the rebel armed forces. Although these two never gained ultimate control over the guatemalan government or country, the PGT laid that idea and fueled flame for the civil war to continue and many inter country forces saw this method as a way to gain power. It was this idea that power can be gained by any means as long as there is a just cause and a majority of people support you and your ideas enough in order for you to gain ultimate power, as supported by a journalist by the name of Jean-Marie Simon. Simon was in guatemala at