A New Militarism in Latin America

Issue Date October 2015
Volume 26
Issue 4
Page Numbers 155-168
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The military is still a puzzle for democracy. Full civilian control was never established in any of the Latin American countries. What we see now are new forms of military power. The armed forces have returned to the center of the political sphere as allies of some Latin American governments. When presidents appeal to the armed forces to maintain public order, they create a dramatic dependence. These days the armed forces are not acquiring power by force; instead, presidents are kindly granted it to them. Most of these military have a rightful role in political decision-making. Still, today’s challenge is to improve democracy standards.

About the Author

Rut Diamint is professor at the University Torcuato Di Tella and researcher at the National Scientific Technical and Research Council of Argentina (CONICET). From March to July 2015, she was a Reagan-Fascell Fellow at the National Endowment for Democracy in Washington, D.C.

View all work by Rut Diamint