ABSTRACT
Cuba maintains 1.2 million military reserves, nearly as many as Brazil, a continental country with 18 times the population. Understanding the reasons for these differences requires knowledge of each country’s history. Militaries reflect the diversity of Latin America. Costa Rica is two generations removed from having a permanent army. Militaries have been important state-building institutions, reflecting and shaping Latin American reality for centuries. Drug smuggling is a newer security concern in Latin America, one that affects some countries much more than others, although none are totally immune. Armies from the United States, Brazil, and Chile invaded and occupied Mexico, Paraguay, and Peru, respectively, before returning home with territorial gains and favorable peace treaties. Such events are not forgotten. A minority praise the deceased dictator as a Cold War hero who protected the country’s freedom. Southern Cone countries are among the United Nation’s most consistent peacekeepers. Participation in international missions reflects a more multilateral orientation.
