Rethinking the Relationship Between the Military and Latin America’s “New Left” Governments:

From the Relevance of National Defense to the South American Defense Council (CDS)

Abstract

This paper offers a proposal to reflect on and complicate a current dichotomy: militarization/democracy. It begins by revisiting the question of whether there is a distinct field of study dedicated to defense in the region. The absence of true civilian control following the dictatorships, as well as the significant military autonomy present in most countries in the region, gave rise to a specific model of civil-military relations. In recent years, this has led to renewed interest in how governments relate to their armed forces. Nonetheless, current South American contexts offer fertile ground for the development of a new conceptual framework regarding civil-military relations. In several countries in the region, during the recent decades of “new left” governments, civil-military relations have become more diverse and multifaceted; the military has increasingly become an important ally in implementing public policies for social integration and development. Although the left has often been labeled “anti-militarist,” recent experiences challenge this notion and demand closer analysis. Finally, the paper explores how these dynamics have contributed to shaping a regional defense stance, exemplified by the creation of the South American Defense Council (CDS).