The Politics of Antipolitics: The Military in Latin America (Latin American Silhouettes)

First published in 1978 and here updated from the 1989 edition to include more information on the origins of antipolitics and its history in the 19th and early 20th centuries, to emphasize the often illusory transitions to democracy from 1965 to 1995, to explore why and how military rulers accede to elected civilian governments, and to document the military's generally successful defense against accusations of human rights abuses. The 28 essays find that the civilian governments blossoming throughout Latin America are dressing authoritarian institutions in the trappings of protected democracy in order to suppress popular movements and to privilege the market.Latin America is moving toward democracy. The region's countries hold elections, choose leaders, and form new governments. But is the civilian government firmly in power? Or is the military still influencing policy and holding the elected politicians in check under the guise of guarding against corruption, instability, economic uncertainty, and other excesses of democracy? The editors of this work, Brian Loveman and Thomas M. Davies, Jr., argue that with or without direct military rule, antipolitics persists as a foundation of Latin American politics. This study examines the origins of antipolitics, traces its nineteenth- and twentieth-century history, and focuses on the years from 1965 to 1995 to emphasize the somewhat illusory transitions to democracy. This third edition of The Politics of Antipolitics has been revised and updated to focus on the post-Cold War era. With the demise of the Soviet state and international Marxism, the Latin American military has appropriated new threats including narcoterrorism, environmental exploitation, technology transfer, and even AIDS to redefine and relegitimate its role in social, economic, and political policy. The editors also address why and how the military rulers acceded to the return of civilian-elected governments and the military's defense again Part I. Military Antipolitics And The Latin American Tradition -- The Politics Of Antipolitics / Brian Loveman And Thomas M. Davies, Jr. -- Instability, Violence, And The Age Of The Caudillos / Brian Loveman And Thomas M. Davies, Jr. -- Part Ii. The Latin American Nation-state And The Creation Of Professional Military Establishments -- On Overview Of The European Military Missions In Latin American / Frederick M. Nunn -- Origins Of The New Professionalism Of The Brazilian Military / Frank D. Mccann, Jr. -- The Army And Politics Of El Salvador, 1840-1927 / Robert V. Elam -- Part Iii. The Military And Latin American Politics, 1919-1945 -- The Military And Argentine Politics / Robert A. Potash -- The Military And Brazilian Politics To World War Ii / Ronald M. Schneider -- The Military In Chilean Politics, 1924-32 / Frederick M. Nunn -- The Military In Peruvian Politics, 1919-1945 / Victor Villanueva -- The Military And Politics In El Salvador, 1927-45 / Robert V. Elam -- The Guatemalan Military And The Revolution Of 1944 / Kenneth J. Grieb -- Part Iv. The United States And The Latin American Military -- Guerrilla Warfare In Underdeveloped Areas / W.w. Rostow -- Post-vietnamcounterinsurgency Doctrine / John D. Waghelstein -- The U.s. Southern Command : A Strategy For The Future / Antonio J. Ramos, Ronald C. Oates, Timothy L. Mcmahon -- Part V. The Military Speaks For Itself : Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru, El Salvador, Guatemala -- Part Vi. Policies And Consequence Of Military Rule -- Military Government And State Terrorism In Argentina / Juan E. Corradi -- He Post-1964 Military Republic In Brazil / Riordan Roett -- Antipolitics In Chile, 1973-94 / Brian Loveman -- Antipolitics In Peru / Stephen M. Gorman -- Antipolitics In El Salvador, 1948-1994 / Knut Walter And Philip J. Williams -- Military Rule In Guatemala / George Black -- Part Vii. The Persistence Of Antipolitics -- Protected Democracies : Antipolitics And Political Transitions In Latin America, 1978-1994 / Brian Loveman -- Human Rights, Antipolitics, And Protecting The Patria : An (almost) Military Perspective / Brian Loveman. Edited By Brian Loveman, Thomas M. Davies, Jr. Includes Bibliographical References.

Latin America is moving toward democracy. The region's countries hold elections, choose leaders, and form new governments. But is the civilian government firmly in power? Or is the military still influencing policy and holding the elected politicians in check under the guise of guarding against corruption, instability, economic uncertainty, and other excesses of democracy? The editors of this work, Brian Loveman and Thomas M. Davies, Jr., argue that with or without direct military rule, antipolitics persists as a foundation of Latin American politics. This study examines the origins of antipolitics, traces its nineteenth- and twentieth-century history, and focuses on the years from 1965 to 1995 to emphasize the somewhat illusory transitions to democracy. This third edition of The Politics of Antipolitics has been revised and updated to focus on the post-Cold War era. With the demise of the Soviet state and international Marxism, the Latin American military has appropriated new threats including narcoterrorism, environmental exploitation, technology transfer, and even AIDS to redefine and relegitimate its role in social, economic, and political policy. The editors also address why and how the military rulers acceded to the return of civilian-elected governments and the military's defense against accusations of human rights abuses.