TUMBUHNYA REZIM MILITER DI AMERIKA

LATIN
BEBERAPA PENDEKATAN

International/structural explanation:
The Cold War. U.S.-Soviet Union Interests.
Mechanisms:
(a) Direct. U.S. intervention in domestic politics in Latin America
supporting anti-communist sectors (black operations, propaganda,
personal contacts).
(b) Direct. U.S. Support to the armed forces in Latin America.
Alliance through military industry and training
(c ) Indirect. U.S. Economic sanctions. Economic crisis.

Military Regimes in Latin America

Domestic-Institutional explanation
(a) The independent role of the military institutions.
History of Latin American armies. Autonomy from civilian control
During the ISI model, the military gained power because they created
military-industrial complex (Chile, Argentina, Brazil)
Military institutions are mechanism of social ascendance
Once political elites have problems, they call the military to
intermediate in conflicts
Since 1960s, internal warfare was considered a crucial role for the
military point of view (What is the National Security Doctrine?)

Military regimes in Latin America

Domestic-Institutional Explanation
(b) polarization of the political system
Actors choices at some point --> produced undesired effects in
institutions and rules --> which produced polarization --> crisis
The example of Chile:
(a) At the beginning of the century Chile had a co-optative
democracy: urban and local elites co-opted middle class
(b) 1920-1960, growing working class. Socialist parties became
relevant
(c ) 1930-60 Change in rules allowed socialists and communists to be
part of the political system
(d) By 1970, right wing parties (30%), center parties (30%), and left
(30%) of national votes.

Military Regimes in Latin America

Domestic-Institutional Explanation

(continuation...)
(e) 1970 elections: Socialist Salvador Allende won presidential
elections with 34%
(f) Constitution did not allowed second round (winner-take-all). Parties
in Congress ratified Allende as President (Always the most voted
candidate was confirmed by the Congress).
(g) During the Allende government extreme polarization of parties.
- The center party (Christian Democracy) did not want to negotiate
with the socialist government.
-The socialist government advances important social reforms without
having the support of the center and the right
- The right took the leading role of the opposition.

Military Regimes in Latin America

Domestic-Institutional Explanation

(continuation...)
In sum:
Certain institutions (winner-take-all) --> polarized the political system
lack of a pragmatic center--> no dialogue between parties, no
compromise --> more polarization
Lack of dialogue --> extreme solutions
then, the right look for military support for a coup
the left look for more reforms to gain more popular support

Military Regimes in Latin America

Class structure explanation

Elites controlling politics and economic power

Challenge by working class (emergence of socialist parties
and organized social movements)
Elites use the military as an instrument to control power.
In this case, the military is not independent. The military is
a tool to achieve certain objective

Military Regimes in Latin America

How would modernization theory explain military coups in

Latin America?

Military Regimes in Latin America

Alternative explanations
(a) International/Structural Explanation
Domestic/institutional explanations:
(b) the independent role of the military
(c ) the degree of polarization in a political system

(d) Domestic/Class structure explanation

(e) Domestic/Cultural Explanation