ABSTRACT
Recent political events in Latin America demonstrate that transitions to democracy are risky and that democratic consolidation is far from achieved in most places on the continent. This chapter presents an analysis of the new security challenges the region is facing after democratization. The chapter begins by offering a theoretical approach to state formation. The argument departs from an understanding of the state as a set of dynamic, complex institutions that continue to undergo a process of development in most countries of the region. In this context, the aim is to study how a new democratic state is formed in which the armed forces and security issues play a critical role in the process of democratization. After the theoretical presentation, the chapter presents an analysis of the new security challenges the region is facing. The chapter analyzes the role of the armed forces and the current situation in which militaries assume missions that may undermine democratic defense structures. A second section presents the most significant current security challenges at the regional level. The conclusion offers some ideas about the continuing formation of democratic states and how this complex institution is dealing with one of its main functions: the defense of its citizens.
