Security Assistance Revisited: How to Win Friends and Not Lose Influence

Abstract

This article presents case studies of US security assistance and influence with regard to Brazil, Nicaragua, and Peru. The studies are particularly illustrative because influence has been a preeminent justification for security assistance to Latin America as the United States has variously attempted to promote pro-American attitudes, continental solidarity, democratic values, and respect for human rights. The policy lessons of these three cases, however, would certainly apply beyond Latin America to other areas of the complex world of the 1980s. A central argument of this essay is that security assistance must be understood as a critical part of a complex bilateral relationship, not discrete and easily manipulated to suit short-term requirements.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 1982
Accession Number
ADA517015

Entities

People

  • Gabriel Marcella

Organizations

  • United States Army War College

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Abstracts
  • Case Studies
  • Human Rights
  • Information Operations
  • Latin America
  • Security
  • United States
  • War Colleges

Fields of Study

  • Political science

Readers

  • Government and Public Administration Law.
  • Military History of the United States in the 20th Century.
  • Political Violence and Terrorism Studies.