For la Patria: Politics and the Armed Forces in Latin America

by Brian Loveman San Diego State University

Overview

Defending 'la patria,' or 'homeland,' is the historical mission claimed by Latin American armed forces. For la Patria is a comprehensive narrative history of the military's political role in Latin America in national defense and security.

Latin American civil-military relations and the role of the armed forces in politics, like those of all modern nation-states, are framed by constitutional and legal norms specifying the formal relationships between the armed forces and the rest of society. In actuality, they are also the result of expectations, attitudes, values, and practices evolved over centuries-integral aspects of national political cultures. Military institutions in each Latin American nation have resulted from that country's own blend of local and imported influences, developing a distinctive pattern of civil-military relations as defender of the fatherland and guarantor of security and order.

Written by Latin American specialist Brian Loveman, For la Patria includes tables, maps, photographs, and a glossary that will assist the student in better understanding the military's intervention in politics in Latin America. This new text will give students a thorough and accessible history of Latin American armed forces and their actions in Latin American politics from colonial times to the present.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780842027724
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	02/01/1999
Series:	Latin American Silhouettes
Pages:	333
Product dimensions:	7.44(w) x 10.22(h) x 1.08(d)

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Introduction: Armed Forces, Militarylore, and la Patria Chapter 2 The Iberian Military Tradition: From the Kingdoms of Las Espanas to la Patria Chapter 3 Inventing la Patria: Wars, Caudillismo, and Politics, 1810–1885 Chapter 4 Foreign Military Missions and la Patria Chapter 5 Variations on Patriotic Themes: la Patria and the Armed Forces from Depression to Cold War Chapter 6 La Patria and the Cold War: Pearl Harbor to the Bay of Pigs Chapter 7 La Patria and the Cold War: Bay of Pigs to the Gulf of Fonseca Chapter 8 La Patria, Regional Security, and 'Democracy' Chapter 9 La Patria, the Armed Forces, and Human Rights Chapter 10 La Patria and Perestroika: Toward the Twenty-first Century Chapter 11 Glossary Chapter 12 Bibliography Chapter 13 Index

Editorial Reviews

Few scholars have devoted themselves more to understanding the issue of civil-military relations in Latin America than Brian Loveman. .. . No other work today matches its cohesiveness and breadth, which enhance its appeal to the general reader and the student alike.

Political Science Quarterly

A significant addition to the literature on the armed forces in Latin America. Certainly it will have few equals as a pedagogical tool and will serve as an invaluable reference source for anyone interested in the continent's military.

The Historian

Over the past two decades democratization has taken hold in Latin America despite a widening gap between the rich and poor in the countries of the region. In a highly readable but sophisticated analysis, Loveman examines how the military as an institution acquired that role and how it has adapted to the changes of the past two decades. Loveman makes a strong case.
—Luther College

J.A. Rhodes

Offers a narrative history of the various Latin American armed forces and their actions in Latin American politics from colonial times to the present. The volume begins with discussion of the Iberian military tradition; succeeding chapters explores such themes as foreign military missions and the idea of , regional security and democracy, human rights and the armed forces, and and Perestroika. Paper edition (unseen), $23.95. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknew.com)

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