Between Autonomy and Independence. The Democratisation of the Armed Forces in Latin America in the Twenty-First Century

Michał Stelmach

doi:10.18778/1641-4233.25.03

Authors

Michał Stelmach University of Lodz, Faculty of International and Political Studies, Department of Latin America and Comparative Studies https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5857-6262

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18778/1641-4233.25.03

Keywords:

militarism, politics, civil-military relations, democratisation, Latin America

Abstract

The aim of this article is to analyse the new forms of militarism as well as the position and the role of the armed forces in Latin American political systems in the twenty-first century. The first part analyses two selected forms of military participation in politics: the participation of former servicemembers in presidential elections and their performance as presidents, and the militarisation of political parties. The second part of the article focuses on the issue of contemporary civil-military relations in Latin America, discussing the problems associated with the establishment of democratic control over the armed forces, the reform of the Ministries of Defense and the redefinition of the functions of the army.

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Author Biography

Michał Stelmach, University of Lodz, Faculty of International and Political Studies, Department of Latin America and Comparative Studies

Michał Stelmach – Ph.D., politologist sspecialising in Latin American Studies, affiliated with the Department of Latin American and Comparative Studies at the Faculty of International and Political Studies at the University of Lodz. In 2011 he defended his doctoral thesis The Position and Role of the Armed Forces in Guatemala and Peru during the War and Peace. A Comparative Study on Political Anthropology. Co-editor of two monographs: Foreign Policy of Poland. 25 Years of Experience and Studying the Foreign Policy of the State: United States, East Asia, Middle East & Latin America. He has published on the transformation of armed forces, civil-military relations in the period of democracy, as well as crime and security in Latin America. His scientific interests focus on the armed forces and the police in periods of dictatorships, socio-ethnic conflicts and Latin American transformations, as well as crime and public security policies in Latin American countries.

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