This edited volume discusses civil-military relations in Latin America. Written by regional experts, the chapters take a multifaceted approach, combining a general overview of the situation in the region, a historical analysis of its evolution and its causes, and an in-depth analysis of national cases: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Uruguay and Venezuela. The case studies examine power relations between armed forces and their respective governments—comparing the degree to which governments exercise political leadership, direction, supervision, and control over the armed forces and the degree of interference of armed forces in aspects of the State unrelated to traditional military missions of protection of sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity against external aggressions.   

Giving a nuanced view of a complex problem that continues to have a strong impact on political stability, human rights, and the quality of life in the region, the book will be of particular interest to researchers and students of international relations, Latin American politics, defense, and security studies.