Cultura Conservadora y Mundo Cambiante las Polémicas al Seno de una Hegemonía Desafiada (Guatemala: 1839-1872)

Abstract

This study reviews the political and religious discourse which prevails in Guatemala after the fall of the liberal government, in 1838. It argues that this discourse takes time to become truly "conservative" and that even when it does it maintains an initial openness necessary to accommodate the interests of converts from liberalism. Although a conservative dominance does prevail during the mid-fifties along with a more closed political discourse, suddenly a decadent economy, a problematic international setting and public opinion concerned with the changing situation make themselves felt. This precipitates a new transition in which the hegemonic discourse seeks to respond to these challenges, which leads once again to broader-based politics. In this way the period, generally characterized historiographically by its conservatism, is seen as made up of complex political alliances wherein a single current of opinion can hardly impose itself.