 In the twentieth century , prominent Latin American dictators have included the Somoza dynasty in Nicaragua , Alfredo Stroessner in Paraguay , and Augusto Pinochet in Chile , among others . As an outside influence , United States interference in Latin American politics is controversial and has often been severely criticized . As García Calderon noted as far back as 1925 : " Does it want peace or is it controlled by certain interests ? " As a theme in the dictator novel , the link between U.S. imperialism and the power of the tyrant is very important . Dictators in Latin America have accepted military and financial support from the United States when it suited them , but have also turned against the United States , using anti @-@ American campaigning to gain favour with the people . In the case of Trujillo , " Nothing promises to reinvigorate his flagging popularity more than to face up to the Yankee aggressor in the name of la patria . " 
