Security in Latin America Flashcards
1
Q
Political Influence of the LA Military
A
- Long tradition of involvement in national defense
- The contiment of political soldiers and military politicians
- important and decisive political actors
- An officer’s career is the most convenient way to the presidency
- 55 Peruvian presidents were soldiers
2
Q
Confidence in Army
A
- Traditionaly high confidence
- Priviliged positin
- Key role in the independence
- The end of the Cold War meant a decline in the importance of military
3
Q
Paraguyan War
A
- Also known as the War Triple Alliance
- Dispute over territory between Paraguay and Brasil, Paraguay held a strict and anti policy against the expansion of Brasil, which led the invasion of Brasil with the support of Argentina and Uruguay
- 1860
- Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay vs. Paraguay
- 280 000 of Paraguayans died
- 50% of the population
*90 % of its male population
4
Q
War of the Pacific (SALTPETER WAR)
A
- 1880
- Chile vs. Bolivia, Peru
- The war was triggered by a dispute over the ownership of the nitrate-rich territories of Atacama.
- Chile won
5
Q
Chaco War
A
- 1930s
- Bolivia vs Paraguay
- The Chaco War was caused by a long-standing dispute over the ownership of the Gran Chaco, a vast, arid region located between Bolivia and Paraguay. Both countries claimed the Chaco because it was believed to contain oil reserves.
- 100,000 to 150,000 casualties (mostly Bolivians)
6
Q
Football War
A
- Also the 100 hours war
- El Salvador vs Honduras
- A brief military conflict fought between El Salvador and Honduras in 1969. Existing tensions between the two countries coincided with rioting during a 1970 FIFA World Cup qualifier.
- Deeper meaning - Land reforms in Honduras and immigration and demographic problems in El Salvador.
- Ceasfire by OAS, Salvadorans withdrew
7
Q
Internal Enemies
A
- More important role
- Colonial regime: against ‘wild’ and rebelious indigenous leader
- century: against communism
- Civil wars: Guatemala (1960-1996) : 200,000 people dead.
8
Q
The Largest Armies in Latin America
A
- Brazil 334
-Colombia 295 - Mexico 277
- Venezuela 195
- Peru 78
- Argentina 77
9
Q
Dominance of the United States
A
- After the First World War the influence of European countries declined significantly
- Cold War: LA was the area of US influence
- 1947 Inter- American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance (the Rio Pact)
- Hemispheric defense” doctrine: an attack against one is to be considered an attack against them all
- US dominance was reinforced
10
Q
United States and Military Interventions
A
- The destruction of communists, terrorists, or internal enemies of the states
- Tradition of political policing through military interventions
- Between 1890 and 2009 the US intervened 56 times in Latin America
- Cold War: Military juntas supported by USA, were the common heads of state and government in most countries of the region
- Crimes against humanity
11
Q
Cuban Revolution 1959
A
- Armed revolt conducted by Fidel Castro against the authoritarian government of Fulgencio Batista
- One of the most important events of the Cold War
- Substantial changes of idealogical boundaries
- Seriously disrupted the US sphere of influence in the Western hemisphere
- Created a mahor security threat for Washington
- Remarkable vitality - help of Soviet bloc countries
12
Q
Guerrilla Warfare
A
- Guerilla: type of violent non-state actor
Guerilla warfare: form of irregular warfare in which a small group of combatants use military tactics to fight a larger and less mobilise traditional military - the success of the guerrilla led by Fidel Castro is emblematic - symbolic
- Wave of sympathy among the Latin American left.
13
Q
Ernesto Che Guevara (1928-1967)
A
- Born in Rosario
- Doctor of medinie
- In december of 1956 Che Guevara traveled from Mexico to Cuba in order to defeat F. Batista
- Positions in the new government
- in 1965 - resigned all his positions
- 1965-66 - mission in Congo
- 1967 mission in Bolivia - death.
14
Q
CHE GUEVARA AS THE THEORIST OF
THE REVOLUTION
A
*many facets of Guevara’s life
* great intellectual, author of several books
* book Guerrilla Warfare (1961)
* The best form to defeat colonial powers is taking
up arms
* Where? In mountainous and rural regions
15
Q
EXPORT OF THE REVOLUTION: GUERRILLA
MOVEMENTS IN LATIN AMERICA
A
- Global repercussions
- Supporting guerilla insurgencies and national liberation movements in many countries
