The Transition to Democracy in Latin America - by Bruce W Farcau (Hardcover)

About the Book

This book examines the role of the military in the wave of democratization that has swept through Latin America in the past decade. Although much of the leading literature on the transition to democracy recognizes the importance of hardline and softline factions within the military in this process, the author takes this study one step further to investigate the motivations of the military officers themselves. Using the cases of Brazil and Bolivia, and relying on dozens of interviews with military officers, politicians, jurists, and other observers throughout Latin America, he determines that the factions' attitudes do not depend primarily on ideological commitment but on the leaders' calculation, as to the career benefits to their followers of either supporting or opposing democratization. In terms of policy making, it is important to recognize this distinction in order to help preserve the fragile democracies which are already under threat from the military once again.

Book Synopsis

This book examines the role of the military in the wave of democratization that has swept through Latin America in the past decade. Although much of the leading literature on the transition to democracy recognizes the importance of hardline and softline factions within the military in this process, the author takes this study one step further to investigate the motivations of the military officers themselves. Using the cases of Brazil and Bolivia, and relying on dozens of interviews with military officers, politicians, jurists, and other observers throughout Latin America, he determines that the factions' attitudes do not depend primarily on ideological commitment but on the leaders' calculation, as to the career benefits to their followers of either supporting or opposing democratization. In terms of policy making, it is important to recognize this distinction in order to help preserve the fragile democracies which are already under threat from the military once again.

Review Quotes

?The author, a foreign service officer with extensive experience in Latin America, focuses on the recent transition from military rule to civilian government in Latin American and provides a useful critique of other literature on the subject.?-Choice

"The author, a foreign service officer with extensive experience in Latin America, focuses on the recent transition from military rule to civilian government in Latin American and provides a useful critique of other literature on the subject."-Choice

About the Author

BRUCE W. FARCAU has been a Foreign Service Officer with the Department of State for nearly 20 years. He has served in Bolivia, Ecuador, the Dominican Republic, France and Spain.