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Militaries in South American Politics

Militaries in South American Politics. Military Mission. Old Mission: To save the patria New Mission: War against drugs. Why?. Creation myth They are more than part of the nation, they are its creators Societal mobility Need for strong government in the face of “continuing danger”

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Militaries in South American Politics

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  1. Militaries in South American Politics

  2. Military Mission • Old Mission: • To save the patria • New Mission: • War against drugs

  3. Why? • Creation myth • They are more than part of the nation, they are its creators • Societal mobility • Need for strong government in the face of “continuing danger” • Professional status • Only the military equipped to save la patria from enemies

  4. Military in Politics explanations • Professionalism • German military • Contact with other military (USA) • Military response domestically driven • Pride in Public service • No glory • Education of enlisted • Shifts type of political interest only • Class based values • Military values supersede civilian

  5. How Much? • 1900-2000 • 167 successful coups • 1.6 per year • 8.8 per country • Uneven distribution: • Bolivia – 15 • Haiti – 14 • Costa Rica – 2 • Uruguay – 1

  6. Change over time? • Decline from 1930s to 2000 • Coups persisted but incidence declined • US government support changes • Eisenhower to Nixon, supportive • Ford to present, less supportive

  7. Four Dimensions of Military Regimes • Power structure based on personalism or collegiality • Military institution assuming and making political decisions with political institutional frameworks • Nature of the ideological orientation • Civilian support

  8. Regime variation on the four dimensions • Historic evolution from personalistic regimes without additional political roles for the military (not in other governmental roles). • Contemporary era saw shift to institutionalized approach – long term commitment with ideological focus. • Populist/inclusionary (reformist – Peron, Velasco)) • Excusionary authoritarianism (Upper-middle class alliance - Brazil 1964-85; Argentina 1976-83; Chile 1973-89)

  9. Cold War Impact • Intensified military tendencies • Focused efforts to combat subversion • Two compelling outcomes: • La patria “saved” from subversives • Human rights violations

  10. Post-Cold War, Amnesty? • Contestation – military policy, mission, size of budget • Prerogatives – internal military affairs, promotion, strategy, deployment • Civilians and military negotiate and compromise on each • Goal to establish civilian control over the military • Curtailing of budgets • Protection of military from post cold-war prosecution • Chile versus Argentina

  11. The Future • Domestic political context in South American countries is overall moderate • Left weak, right moderating, international pressure • Militaries accomplished their missions • Saved the patria from subversive attacks • Timing good – 1990s a difficult time to govern • Economic disarray, allow civilian responsibility • Junior officers less interested in politics • Impacts of senior officers were negative • Transition to war against drugs • Provides a mission, gains support domestic and international

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