Militarization, democracy, and development : the perils of praetorianism in Latin America

Do Third World countries benefit from having large militaries, or does this impede their development? In the face of conflicting evidence from prior quantitative research and case studies, Kirk Bowman sets out to explore just what effect militarization has had on development in Latin America. Identifying distinctive features of the military as an institution in Latin America, Kirk Bowman uses statistical analysis to demonstrate that militarization has had a particularly malignant impact in this region of the world on three key measures of development: democracy, economic growth, and equity. For this quantitative comparison he draws on longitudinal data for a sample of 76 developing countries and for 18 Latin American nations. To illuminate the causal mechanisms at work--how agency and sequence operate in the relationship between militarization and these three areas of development--Bowman offers a detailed comparison of Costa Rica and Honduras between 1948 and 1998. The case studies not only serve to bolster his general argument about the harmful effects of militarization but also provide many new insights into the processes of democratic consolidation and economic transformation in these two Central American countries. Do Third World Countries Benefit From Having Large Militaries, Or Does This Impede Their Development? In The Face Of Conflicting Evidence From Prior Quantitative Research And Case Studies, Kirk Bowman Sets Out To Explore Just What Effect Militarization Has Had On Development In Latin America. To Illuminate The Causal Mechanisms At Work - How Agency And Sequence Operate In The Relationship Between Militarization And These Three Areas Of Development - Bowman Offers A Detailed Comparison Of Costa Rica And Honduras Between 1948 And 1998. The Case Studies Not Only Serve To Bolster His General Argument About The Harmful Effects Of Militarization But Also Provide Many New Insights Into The Processes Of Democratic Consolidation And Economic Transformation In These Two Central American Countries.--cover. Militarization And Development: The Research Question And The Research Design -- Militarization: The Causal Variable, The Literature, And The Theory -- Bullets Versus Ballots: Militarization And Democracy -- Taming The Tiger: A Quantitative Analysis Of Militarization And Democracy In Latin America -- When Ballots Trump Bullets: Demilitarization And Democratic Consolidation In Costa Rica -- When Bullets Trump Ballots: Militarization And Democratic Collapse In Honduras -- Guns Versus Butter: Militarization, Economic Growth, And Equity -- Guns Versus Butter: A Quantitative Analysis Of Militarization And Material Development -- Escaping The Lost Decade: Militarization And Economic Growth In Costa Rica And Honduras. Kirk S. Bowman. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 255-279) And Index. Contents......Page 6 List of Figures and Tables......Page 8 Preface......Page 10 List of Abbreviations......Page 14 Part I: Introduction......Page 16 1 Militarization and Development: The Research Question and the Research Design......Page 18 2 Militarization: The Causal Variable, the Literature, and the Theory......Page 34 Part II: Bullets Versus Ballots: Militarization and Democracy......Page 58 3 Taming the Tiger: A Quantitative Analysis of Militarization and Democracy in Latin America......Page 60 4 When Ballots Trump Bullets: Demilitarization and Democratic Consolidation in Costa Rica......Page 84 5 When Bullets Trump Ballots: Militarization and Democratic Collapse in Honduras......Page 156 Part III: Guns Versus Butter: Militarization, Economic Growth, and Equity......Page 196 6 Guns Versus Butter: A Quantitative Analysis of Militarization and Material Development......Page 198 7 Escaping the Lost Decade: Militarization and Economic Growth in Costa Rica and Honduras......Page 222 Part IV: Summation......Page 258 Conclusion......Page 260 References......Page 270 Index......Page 296 "Do Third World countries benefit from having large militaries, or does this impede their development? In the face of conflicting evidence from prior quantitative research and case studies, Kirk Bowman sets out to explore just what effect militarization has had on development in Latin America.". "To illuminate the causal mechanisms at work - how agency and sequence operate in the relationship between militarization and these three areas of development - Bowman offers a detailed comparison of Costa Rica and Honduras between 1948 and 1998. The case studies not only serve to bolster his general argument about the harmful effects of militarization but also provide many new insights into the processes of democratic consolidation and economic transformation in these two Central American countries."--BOOK JACKET. Do Third World countries benefit from having large militaries, or does this impede their development? This text uses statistical analysis to demonstrate that militarization has had a malignant impact in this region. For quantitative comparison, it draws on longitudinal data for a sample of 76 developing countries and for 18 Latin American nations.