ABSTRACT
A cursory examination of the armed forces in Latin America presents a puzzle. But Latin American economies have grown over the past decade, and civilians in government have in fact directed some of that economic growth toward the armed forces. The armed forces in Latin America exhibit some important variations, and some similarities. Throughout much of the region, paramilitary forces supplement the armed forces. The armed forces of the region also exhibit ideological differences. The era of military rule ended only after the debt crisis of the 1980s and growing outrage over human rights violations drove the armed forces from power. The military that governed Argentina from 1976 to 1983 used barbarous tactics in its ruthless effort to quell dissent to its rule. Brazil had its own dirty war under the military regime that ruled from 1964 to 1985, but the civilian governments since that time have made it clear that they would rather not pursue prosecution.
