Military Coups and Military Rule in Latin America

Contrary to the prognostications of authors writing as late as 15 years ago, both military coups and direct military rule in Latin America are shown to have undergone a sudden, sustained, region-wide decline following a notable upsurge during the 1970s. Rather than with changing levels of socioeconomic development, the explanation lies substantially with the legacy of military rule itself, including the military's association with economic failure, the disaffection of the military's business allies, the attendant "learning experiences" of civilian politicians, and, not least, the factionalization and loss of professionalism of the military itself, as well as an anti-authoritarian international climate. The impact of such causes could fade with time, thus leading to a renewal of direct military rule. There are some signs, however, of the emergence of a more institutionalized form of military involvement than in the past, one which entails an explicit political role for the military within otherwise democratic polities, but falling short of direct rule, in a kind of a post-national security state.