New forms of militarization: socialization by the military

Abstract

The traditional coups d’état that devastated Latin American countries in the 20th century have given way to other forms of militarization. The armed forces appear as allies of the governments in power, summoned by the elected presidents. Officers in most of the countries of the region are dedicated to
police tasks, propagating a direct link with society. This paper seeks to expose a hidden phenomenon developing in Latin America, that could be called‘socialization by the military’. This means a clear process of militarization when the armed forces assume diverse functions including safeguarding the civilian
population in non-defense-related matters. Another aspect of this close relation with society is the incorporation of women into the military career as a false sign of the democratization of the armed forces. As the article elaborates, this kind of socialization by the military results from the weakness of
civil-military relations, the feebleness of Latin-American public policies, and the manipulation of political legitimacy.