Radicalisation and political crisis: the personal transitions of a Guatemalan social Christian militant, 1942–1981

This article examines the life of Mayan-K’iche’ social Christian activist Emeterio Toj Medrano. Through in-depth interviews, complemented with work in archives located Guatemala and United States, reconstructs how developed used personal tools to assess moments political crisis radicalisation scenarios that he had face during Guatemalan experience inter-American Cold War. Taking into account different aspects Emeterio’s – his K’iche’ identity historical memory, spheres influence, narratives, militant activities so on helps us understand specific dimensions process deterioration between certain layers central Highlands population vis-à-vis military regime. In articulating these local national processes, also nuances characterised polarisation Central American isthmus 1970s. The is part a historiographic trend emphasises importance taking scale explain domestic, regional global processes.