Research Questions/Intro
When thinking about social demonstrations in Latin America, the word cacerolazos floods headlines and imagines of pots and pans accompanying it. Cacerolazo is defined by The Washington Post as the banging of pots and pans, used in particular for protests. Cacerolazos first originated in the 19th century in France as la casserolade in protest of the restoration of the French monarchy. However, the form in which we know cacerolazos, a form of protest, did not occur until the 70s in Chile. It was after Chile’s initial cacerolazo that it became a legitimate form of protest across Latin American and the world. One of my questions is why are cacerolazos so popular in Latin America? Additionally, why has it been successful in spreading to other regions of the world. I wanted to explore whether it was the urban planning of Latin America that has led to cacerolazos being the de facto form of protest. Furthermore, there is a possible gendered element to the form of protest as many of the demonstrations are led by women. The last new research question I would like to explore is the evolution of causes that have led to cacerolazos, starting with famine/food shortages to more contemporary issues such as human rights.
- Why are cacerolazos so popular in Latin America?
- Why have they been successful in spreading to other regions of the world?
- Has the urban planning of Latin America that has led to cacerolazos being the de facto form of protest?
- Is there a gendered element to the form of protest as many of the demonstrations are led by women?
Women partaking in a cacerolazo in Argentina. Taken by Mariano Sokal, April 18, 2013.
Narrative/Overview
The main theme I want to explore is the evolution and the spread of the cacerolazos across and outside Latin America. My topic is significant as social change is continuously confronting many developing countries, along with some developed ones. Additionally, cacerolazos in the past five years have been seemingly spreading to regions far from Latin America. Seeing as how most cacerolazos are non-violent in nature, this could explain why it has become a popular manner of expressing discontent with the status quo and their government.
The first recorded “cacerolazo” took place in France in 1830 where Parisian women banged pots and pans outside their homes to protest the food shortages and economic conditions of the nation after the restoration of the French crown. The idea stemmed from a medieval custom they had to create as much noise as possible to mock people. There are no accounts of casserolades occurring after the initial demonstration, expect one in Alegria in 1961. This casserolade was done to protest Algerian independence by the French Algerian supporters as a way to be heard. However, what we know today as a cacerolazo began in the 70s in Chile. During the 70s, President Salvador Allende socialist leader, faced many economic issues, some exacerbated by the intervention of the US as well as global inflation and high oil prices. Due to truck embargos and other causes the people faced food shortages. Like in France, the cacerolazos in Chile began with women who not only used the kitchenware to represent the lack of food. In traditional households with a strong patriarchal culture, women’s role often was in the kitchen. Throughout history in Latin America, protests by women have erupted in marketplaces and around the theme of food–because women’s role in society was to prepare food for the family and shortages hit them here first. Conservative women led the 1971 cacerolazo in Chile. Once Allende was ousted in 1973, he was replaced by President Agusto Pinochet, who led a dictatorship. The cacerolazos that occurred after Pinochet, shifted as a tool used by the political left to protest the dictatorship. Chile Today makes a clear emphasis that cacerolazos, although, starting as a right-wing tool, are politically neutral tools for social change.
In fact, the largest cacerolazo in Chile was the national cacerolazo in 1983 against Pinochet. It was organized as a way to be, quite literally, heard when violent military crackdowns against protesters were rampant. It allowed them to protest from the comfort of their balconies without actually rallying on the streets. Not only were they not in danger of being victims of state violence, greater portions of the populations could partake in demonstrations. Children and the elderly who may have been sheltered or unable to take to the streets could finally have a voice. This ability to finally have a voice could be a reason for the spread and popularity of cacerolazos. When it comes to origins of cacerolazos women leading the original demonstrations did so because it was a way for them to finally get a voice in politics. After witnessing Chile use this form of protests against Allende and the Pinochet governments, other nations in the continent facing similar crisis followed their lead. Argentina, Uruguay, and Venezuela were among some of the neighboring countries to hold their own cacerolazos.
As learned in HIST 302, most cities in Latin America were built in a similar design. Many of these cities were built around a central plaza which was usually surrounded with important institutions such as the governing body, religious building, and monetary establishment. All these institutions being in one area make it an easy location for people to congregate in protest of any issues involving those establishments. When cacerolazos form and mobilize, these plazas are usually the destination, such as the Plaza de Mayo in Buenos Aires.
Cacerolazos seemed to have gone quiet for a small period of time until the Argentinian economic crisis struck. Hyperinflation in 2001 lead to cacerolazos across the nation. We then see the cacerolazos in Venezuela, in which they protest against suppression from the authoritarian regimes of both Hugo Chaves and Nicolas Maduro. Chile further on saw protest in 2011 were students were leading cacerolazos, once again elections in Venezuela saw citizens take to the streets with their pots and pan in 2013. Recent cacerolazo have dealt with the Brazilian President Bolsonaro and the pandemic, Maduros’ conflict-ridden presidency in Venezuela, relief response in Puerto Rico, feminism movements across Latin America, etc. Across the Atlantic in Spain, the autonomous region of Catalonia has also used the form of protest in cries for independence from Spain. The Washington Post even shows how Latin America in which the cacerolazos have taken place such as Myanmar against the military coup in 2020 and the US, specifically DC in the aftermath of the George Floyd case. Cacerolazos are no longer limited to a specific region of world, Latin American, but have expanded to all corners of the world. The reasons for the cacerolazos have evolved to encompass modern day issues and are led by groups that want to feel heard, just like the women did in the first cacerolazos in Chile. The versatility and neutrality of the form of protest may be the reason for its popularity. Cacerolazos are an auditory form of protest, they are used not only to visually demonstrate discontent, but to auditorily fill the air with cries. While officials may be able to turn a blind eye to protests in the streets with remarks of not seeing them or being big enough to show large discontent, cacerolazos do. No one is able to deny the clanks of pots and pans filling the skies of the cities at 8pm in San Juan.
Protesters in a Cacerolazo in Buenos Aries. Taken by Leandro Kibisz “Cacerolazo 18A Buenos Aires: Venezolanos denunciando fraude en la elección de Maduro,” April 18, 2013. Digital image. https://www.flickr.com/photos/loco085/8661462883/
Cacerolazos have also hit mainstream culture. Social media is becoming the communication form of choice when organizing cacerolazos, especially during COVID. Digital cacerolazos during COVID allowed the manifestations to take place online on sites like Twitter, but instead of filling streets and the winds, people feed. The usage of cacerolazos by worldwide artists only amplifies the voices of the demonstrators. Chilean singer Mon Laferte and Puerto Rican reggaeton rapper Guaynaa created a song in 2019 in support for protest against the public transit reforms in Chile. They sample sounds of pots and pans in the opening followed by lyrics of inequality plaguing the country. Likewise, fellow Chilean French singer, Ana Tijoux uses the sounds of cacerolazos in a song titled Cacerolazos, as a musical report on what was going on in Chile in 2019.
It remains to be studied what exactly cause the growth and expansion of cacerolazos in and outside Latin America. Is it the versatility and neutrality associated with the protests that make it a tool for any group to use? Is it the layout and purpose of the urban design shared across Latin America that made it resonate with other neighboring countries? Is it the influence media and artists are putting onto cacerolazos? Or is it due to its history of relating to women’s voices being heard?
Primary Sources Annotated Bibliography
Florido, Adrian. “In Puerto Rico, Pots And Pans Have Become Tools For Protest.” NPR, July 24, 2019. https://www.npr.org/2019/07/24/744775925/protesters-try-to-oust-puerto-ricos-governor-with-pots-and-pans.
This is one of the sources that I chose because it is a reportage straight from a cacerolazo. The reportage includes scenes from a cacerolazo in Puerto Rico in protest of Governor Rossello. The reports states how locals see it as an opportunity for children and elderly to take part in expressing their frustration with the government. I also think it is unique coverage as it includes an auditory component to which you can hear a live cacerolazo.
Janetsky, Megan. “Kitchenware cacophony: How ‘cacerolazos’ Became the Symbol of Colombia’s Anti-government Protests.” The World, November 26, 2019. https://theworld.org/stories/2019-11-26/kitchenware-cacophony-how-cacerolazos-became-symbol-colombia-s-anti-government.
The second source I choose was due to the extensive interviews and quotes. It goes into detail with quotes from student David Cortes which explains one sentiment behind the usages of pots and pans. It’s a common weapon found in every household. I also used this source to explain a bit on the background and origins of the cacerolazos.
Secondary Sources Annotated Bibliography
Buenrostro, Andrea. “Parrhesia, a Cacerolazo beyond Argentina, and a Purple Spring in Mexico.” Medium. WHEN WOMEN SPEAK BACK, March 22, 2017. https://medium.com/when-women-speak-back/parrhesia-a-cacerolazo-beyond-argentina-and-a-purple-spring-in-mexico-88ccd3cc6233.
This article explores the reasons for the manifestation of cacerolazos has been changed. In specific it touches on the ways the form of protest is being used in Mexico and influenced the feminists movements in the country. It also accounts the history of women behind the cacerolazos and their impacts.
Chatterjee, Sumedha. “Cacerolanzo and Women in Politics.” The International Magz, November 7, 2021. https://www.internationalmagz.com/articles/cacerolanzo-and-women-in-politics.
Chatterjee explains the history of cacerolazos in Chile during the Allende administration and post Allende. Additionally, article explains the role of women in commencing the cacerolazos and how it allowed them to gain political power like their male counterparts.
Mellen, Ruby. “How Pots and Pans Became Tools of Protests, from Chile to Myanmar.” The Washington Post. WP Company, February 4, 2021. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/02/04/pots-pans-protests-myanmar-coup/.
In additional to recounted how cacerolazos sprung up all around Latin America and their history behind it, it further explores how in contemporary time cacerolazos have spread elsewhere. In specific is focuses on the cacerolazos in response to the military coup in Myanmar, George Floyd case in America, Iceland, and Spain.
Ocasio Vega, Monica B. “Op-Ed: Puerto Ricans Turn to Cacerolas When Their Voices Have Been Silenced or Ignored.” Remezcla, July 24, 2019. https://remezcla.com/features/culture/op-ed-cacerolazos-puerto-rico-voices-silenced-ricardo-rossello/.
This Op-Ed recounts how cacerolazos have been used in the past to create political change and it specifically focuses on how Puerto Ricans have been using it to demand the resignation of Governor Rosello. It additionally has an emphasis on women’s role in Puerto Rico.
Rivera, Diego. “From France to Chile: the History of the Cacerolazo.” Chile Today, June 17, 2020. https://chiletoday.cl/from-france-to-chile-the-history-of-the-cacerolazo/.
I chose this source from Rivera as because it mainly serves as a timeline of the occurrences of cacerolazos. Additionally, it informs us on how different parties of government used these forms of protests and to what challenges they respond to in contemporary times.
Sandoval, Tasha. “A Journey Around the World with the History of the Cacerolazo.” The Bogota Post, November 27, 2019. https://thebogotapost.com/a-journey-around-the-world-with-the-history-of-the-cacerolazo/42524/.
Like the previous source, this one provides a general overview of cacerolazos. It goes into the origins and further explores its expansions abroad. It includes cacerolazos in Quebec and Catalonia. It also provides an interview at the end of first hand participants which could prove useful.
Glossary
Cacerolazo – according to Collins Dictionary, a cacerolazo is “banging on pots and pans (political protest)”
Peaceful Protest – “nonviolent resistance, is a form of protest in which participants do not engage in any action that could be deemed violent”
Socialist – a person who advocated for a common or governmental ownership of production and goods
Plaza – a public square in a city or town; usually located near urban buildings
Authoritarian – some who concentrates the power into themselves as sole leader but who is not constitutionally responsible to the body of the people.
Dictatorship – a government when all the power is concentrated in a autocratic rule
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