Latin America Risks Becoming the Land of Militarized Democracies
Latin America Risks Becoming the Land of Militarized Democracies
Countries are empowering generals to deal with critical policy challenges. They are missing the point.
When Chilean President Sebastián Piñera went on television to announce a state of emergency on Sunday, he was surrounded by military figures – trying to convey a message of strength and unity amid massive protests and violence in the streets. Inevitably, comparisons with Chile’s dark military past flooded the Internet.
Only two weeks before, Ecuadorians had witnessed a similar scene. As demonstrations against a multi-billion dollar austerity program spiraled out of control, President Lenín Moreno appeared surrounded by his generals to impose a nationwide state of emergency. In both...
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