Military Rule and the Problem of Legitimacy: Peru, 1968-1975 and Argentina, 1976-1983
Abstract
The Institutional military regimes that came to power in Peru in 1968 and Argentina in 1976, although radically different in many respects, were similar in that they intended to impose significant political and socioeconomic changes on their societies. Consequently after their coups, the military regimes did not return to the barracks after restoring order or installing an acceptable civilian government. Instead, they ruled for an extended period of time. In each case, however, the regimes were forced to make unscheduled departures without having achieved their stated objectives. Why did these military regimes fall from power? Finer provides a possible explanation when he states that the armed forces suffer from two 'crippling' political weaknesses: their technical inability to administer and their lack of legitimacy to rule. While most studies of the failure of military rule have tended to examine the problems of military political management, this paper focuses on the military's lack of legitimacy. The purpose of this report, then, is to examine the problem of legitimacy and the impact it had in the downfall of military rule in Peru and Argentina.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 1992
- Accession Number
- ADA252587
Entities
People
- Guillermo B. Balmaseda
Organizations
- Air Force Institute of Technology