Latin American Military and Politics in the Twenty-First Century: A Cross-National Analysis

Description

This volume offers a comparative analysis of the role of the military in Latin America in domestic politics and governance after 2000. Divided into four parts covering the entirety of Latin America, the book argues that the Latin American military as semi-autonomous political actors have not faded away since 2000 and may even have been making a comeback in various countries. Each part outlines scenarios which effectively frame the various pathways taken to post-military democratic society. Part 1 critically examines textbook cases of political demilitarization in the Southern Cone, Peru, and Costa Rica. Part 2 contrasts the role of the military in the post-2000 politics of two regional powers: Brazil and Mexico. Part 3 examines the political role of the military facing ‘violent pluralism’ in Colombia and the Northern triangle of Central America. Finally, Part 4 identifies country cases in which the military have been instrumental in the rise, sustenance, and occasional demise of left wing revolutionary projects within Venezuela, Cuba, Nicaragua, and Bolivia. Latin American Military and Politics in the Twenty-First Century will be of interest to scholars, students and professionals in the fields of Latin American history, international relations, military studies and studies concerning democracy, political violence and revolution in Latin America elsewhere. Cover Endorsement Half Title Series Information Title Page Copyright Page Table of Contents Contributors Preface and Acknowledgements Abbreviations 1 Introduction: The Latin American Military and Politics in the Twenty-First Century Historical Background: The Constitution and Legacy of Latin America’s Political Militarism The Military Under Democratic Rule Military Politicians On the Democratic Stage Resilience Or Resurgence of Political Militarism? The Book’s Approach: Scenarios for Rethinking the Political Role of the Military Notes Bibliography Part 1 Back to the Barracks? 2 Peru—The Armed Forces in Search of a Place in the World The Legacy of the Twentieth Century ‘Post-Fujimorist’ Peru (2001–2016) A New Stage: And the Armed Forces? Conclusions and Future Prospects Notes Bibliography 3 Chile—A Democracy With Semi-Autonomous Armed Forces: A History of Civil–Military Relations Since 1990 Prologue Tracing an Evolution Current Civil–Military Relations in Chile (2021) Conclusions Note Bibliography 4 Uruguay—The Military and Politics in the Twenty-First Century: The Chronicle of a Conflictive Relationship The Military Factor in the Construction of the Nation-State The Cold War and the Role of the United States in the Restructuring of the Military Factor The Military Government in Uruguay (1973–1984) and Its Post-Traditional Legacy The Military and Human Rights in the FA Government The Failed Reform of the Armed Forces During the FA Governments A Military Party in Uruguay? Notes Bibliography 5 Argentina—The Reinvention of the Armed Forces in the Face of the Challenge of Demilitarising the Nation-State Background What Did the Democratic Authorities Do With the Armed Forces During the Post-Authoritarian Transition? The Transnational Influence On the Professionalisation of the FFAA Demilitarisation of Homeland Security as a State Policy and Peacekeeping Operations as a Horizon The Northern Border and Sovereignty: the OPINOR Conclusions Notes Bibliography 6 Costa Rica—The Demilitarisation of Politics: An Exceptional Story Introduction A Brief History of the Armed Forces in Costa Rica Up Until 1949 Militarism Versus Institutionalisation Administration of Justice Political and Financial Control Electoral Management Social Progress Benefits Financial Political Judicial Geopolitical Civic Symbolic Can Demilitarisation Be Replicated? In Conclusion Bibliography Part 2 Regional Powers Under Siege 7 Brazil—The Military and Politics at the End of the ‘New Republic’ Prologue General Villas Bôas’ Tweets The ‘Military Family’ The Chalk Circle The Rise of the Military in Brazilian Politics The ‘Military Party’ Where Is This All Leading? Notes Bibliography 8 Mexico—The Armed Forces: Revolution, One-Party Rule and the Uncertainties of Democratisation and Insecurity Revolution and One-Party Rule Political Transition and the Armed Forces The ‘War On Drugs’ and the Military ‘Pueblo Uniformado’ and Militarisation Beyond Public Security? Notes Bibliography Part 3 Violent Pluralism 9 Guatemala—The Sword of Damocles: Deficient Civilian Control and Relative Military Autonomy Background: Dismantling the Political Army Initial Obstacles to Transformation: Implementing the AFPC The Escalation of Crime and Violence and the Failure of the Police Reform Giving a Public Security Role to the Military The De-Institutionalisation of Military Power Conclusion: The Mirage of Civilian Control in Unconsolidated Democracies Note Bibliography 10 El Salvador—The Armed Forces in Politics: Support and Tutelage Background: Legacies of Military Rule Context: In Search of ‘Democratic’ Military Operations After the Peace Accords Recent Developments and Prospects Notes Bibliography 11 Honduras—The Militarisation of Politics Or the Politicisation of the Military?: The Armed Forces in Times of Political... The Political Management of Public Security The Cold War Context The Transition to Democracy In a Context of Insecurity Institutional Militarisation The Police Force Subordinated to the Armed Forces Institutional Military Management The Relative Operational Autonomy of the Police Functional Militarisation The Political Control of the Military The Military in a Context of Multiple Crises Note Bibliography 12 Colombia—Civil–Military Relations in the Twenty-First Century Background The Military in Colombia: The Quest for an Institutional Niche The Twenty-First-Century Reforms Drug Trafficking and the Military Encounter With Society in the Midst of War Notes Bibliography Part 4 Armoured Bolivarianism 13 Venezuela—The Osmosis Between the Dominant Political Party, the Military and the Public Administration Oil Revenues, Public Spending and the Military in the Twentieth Century The Rise of Chávez The Venezuelan Armed Forces Under Chávez Twenty-First-Century Socialism Maduro’s Venezuela The Venezuelan Armed Forces Under Maduro Concluding Remarks Notes Bibliography 14 Cuba—The Cuban Armed Forces: From Revolutionaries to Entrepreneurs Introduction The Cuban Political System The Constitutional Framework The Real Power The FAR’s Symbolism and Power Final Comments Notes Bibliography 15 Nicaragua—The Changing Ethos of the Nicaraguan Army: From a Revolutionary Army to an Advocate of Democracy And, Finally, a Financial... Revolutionary Stage: An Imaginary Armageddon and an Unexpected Enemy The Stage of Survival and Adjustment The Stage of Financial Emporium and Silent Accomplice to the New Dictatorship Financial Emporium Silent Accomplice to the New Dictatorship Complicit Silence Conclusion Notes Bibliography 16 Bolivia—The Armed Forces and the Crisis of the Plurinational State of Bolivia: Neo-Conservatism... The Identity of the Armed Forces The Armed Forces and the Process of Change: 2006–2019 The Reformist Discourse of the Government and the Armed Forces Actions for and Reactions to Change The Conservativism and Esprit De Corps of the Armed Forces The Role of the Armed Forces in the Coup D’État and the Irregular Government: 2019–2020 The Armed Forces’s Support for the Irregular Government Main Aspects of the Coup and the Irregular Government The New Government and the Armed Forces, Towards 2025 Context of the New Government ‘It Is Not Revenge But Justice’ New Government and the Armed Forces Epilogue Notes Bibliography 17 Military Officers for Democracy: The OMIDELAC in the 1970s and the 1980s Prologue Background The OMIDELAC Epilogue Notes Bibliography 18 Conclusions: Latin America’s New Civil–Military Politics The Four Scenarios Back to the Barracks Regional Powers Under Siege Violent Pluralism Armoured Bolivarianism From Political Militarism to Civil–Military Politics Notes Bibliography Index