The Politics of Antipolitics: The Military in Latin America (Latin American Silhouettes) [Hardcover]

Thomas Davies (Editor), Brian Loveman (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 1997 | ISBN-10: 0842026096 | ISBN-13: 978-0842026093 | Edition: Rev Upd

Latin America is moving toward democracy. The region's countries hold elections, choose leaders, and form new governments. But is the civilian government firmly in power? Or is the military still influencing policy and holding the elected politicians in check under the guise of guarding against corruption, instability, economic uncertainty, and other excesses of democracy?

The editors of this work, Brian Loveman and Thomas M. Davies, Jr., argue that with or without direct military rule, antipolitics persists as a foundation of Latin American politics. This study examines the origins of antipolitics, traces its nineteenth- and twentieth-century history, and focuses on the years from 1965 to 1995 to emphasize the somewhat illusory transitions to democracy. This third edition of The Politics of Antipolitics has been revised and updated to focus on the post-Cold War era. With the demise of the Soviet state and international Marxism, the Latin American military has appropriated new threats including narcoterrorism, environmental exploitation, technology transfer, and even AIDS to redefine and relegitimate its role in social, economic, and political policy. The editors also address why and how the military rulers acceded to the return of civilian-elected governments and the military's defense against accusations of human rights abuses.

Editorial Reviews

Review

A valuable research tool, useful to both graduate and upper-division undergraduate levels. (Choice )

This volume remains the best compendium on this subject, and it is highly recommended. (New Mexico Historical Review )

Loveman and Davies have revised and updated their classic edited edition, and it remains a valuable contribution to the literature on military power and democracy in Latin America. (Journal Of Third World Studies )

Product Details

• Hardcover: 438 pages
• Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers; Rev Upd edition (October 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0842026096
• ISBN-13: 978-0842026093
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,195,025 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Outstanding Examination of the Military in Latin America, June 17, 2002

By 

Bert Ruiz "Author" (Pleasantville, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Politics of Antipolitics: The Military in Latin America (Latin American Silhouettes) (Paperback)

Loveman & Davies are pioneers. They establish a trail that is difficult to overlook. I know of no book in the nation that covers so much ground with such a wide array of experts. This is clearly an important book for anyone who wants to understand the Military in Latin America.