THE GAVILLEROS OF THE EAST - SOCIAL BANDITRY AS POLITICAL PRACTICE INTHE DOMINICAN SUGAR REGION, 1900-1924

This essay explores 'social banditry' as a form of political practice in relation to distinct regimes of power; regional, national, and impe rialist. The eastern region of the Dominican Republic experienced a ra pid rise of land values and conversion of peasant smallholdings into s ugar cane fields at the start of the twentieth century. Roving bands o f 'outlaws' called 'gavilleros' appeared almost immediately, and came under increasing, and different, scrutiny during the years 1916-1924, when United States Marines occupied the Republic. This essay considers the political and social dimensions of gavillero conduct as it was tr ansformed-and transformed itself-during the first quarter of the twent ieth century.