Demilitarisation in Latin America

Abstract

Levels of economic development in Latin America vary drastically, both between states and within states. Military influence in politics has been a major theme of Latin American political life for more than one hundred and fifty years. Though its incidence has ebbed and flowed markedly during this time, as late as the early 1960s it was a normal assumption of political observers that economic modernisation would be accompanied by the consolidation of civilian government and the 'professionalisation' of the armed forces. By 1973, however, the majority of Latin Americans were again living under military government, and where earlier military governments (such as that of Peru in 1962-3) professed to be merely temporary custodians of the national constitution, the new military governments of some of the most advanced states of the region (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru, Uruguay) made it clear that their intention was to stay in power as long as was 'necessary' to carry out the important and far-reaching changes they had in mind. Since the spread of these regimes was in some sense a response to what their leaders saw as the threat of Cuban-inspired subversion, guerrilla warfare and urban terrorism, this movement has been seen as the consolidation of the 'garrison state' or 'national security state'.' The two model regimes, though, namely Brazil since 1964 (and more particularly since its authoritarian transformation in 1968) and Peru between 1968 and 1980, were as much (if not more) concerned with economic development. Indeed, in the latter case, 'Plan Inca', conceived as a blueprint for the future of Peru in the Centro de Altos Estudios Militares (CAEM), specifically aimed at forestalling future social unrest by carrying out a planned social revolution under military direction.2 In the former case, the leading Brazilian officers who, uniquely among Latin American officers, had had active service experience of the European theatre in World War II, saw their country as being threatened by the inconsequential rivalry of political factions.