Page "Conservatism" Paragraph 47

Conservative elites have long dominated Latin American nations.

Mostly this has been achieved through control of and support for civil institutions, the church and the armed forces, rather than through party politics.

Typically the church was exempt from taxes and its employees immune from civil prosecution.

Where national conservative parties were weak or non-existent, conservatives were more likely to rely on military dictatorship as a preferred form of government.

However in some nations where the elites were able to mobilize popular support for conservative parties, longer periods of political stability were achieved.

Chile, Colombia and Venezuela are examples of nations that developed strong conservative parties.

Argentina, Brazil, El Salvador and Peru are examples of nations where this did not occur.

The Conservative Party of Venezuela disappeared following the Federal Wars of 1858-1863.

Chile's conservative party, the National Party disbanded in 1973 following a military coup and did not re-emerge as a political force following the subsequent return to democracy.