Eroding Military Influence in Brazil: Politicians Against Soldiers - Softcover

Hunter, Wendy

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0807846201 ISBN 13: 9780807846209

Publisher: The University of North Carolina Press, 1997

Synopsis

Wendy Hunter explores civil-military relations in Brazil following the transition to civilian leadership in 1985. She documents a marked, and surprising, decline in the political power of the armed forces, even as they have remained involved in national policy making. To account for the success of civilian politicians, Hunter invokes rational-choice theory in arguing that politicians will contest even powerful forces in order to gain widespread electoral support. Many observers expected Brazil's fledgling democracy to remain under the firm direction of the military, which had tightly controlled the transition from authoritarian to civilian rule. Hunter carefully refutes this conventional wisdom by demonstrating the ability of even a weak democratic regime to expand its autonomy relative to a once-powerful military, thanks to the electoral incentives that motivate civilian politicians. Based on interviews with key participants and on extensive archival research, Hunter's analysis of developments in Brazil suggests a more optimistic view of the future of civilian democratic rule in Latin America.

About this title

Review:

"Hunter's important and exemplary study stands as a model of organization, analysis, and clarity.

"Choice""

"A significant contribution to the literature on post-transition civil-military relations.

J. Samuel Fitch, University of Colorado"

The best new book on Latin American civil-military relations.

"Latin American Research Review"

Hunter's important and exemplary study stands as a model of organization, analysis, and clarity.

"Choice"

A significant contribution to the literature on post-transition civil-military relations.

J. Samuel Fitch, University of Colorado

Synopsis:

This study explores civil-military relations in Brazil following the transition to civilian leadership in 1985. The author documents the marked decline in the political power of the armed forces and invokes rational-choice theory to account for the success of civilian politicians

About this edition

• Publisher: The University of North Carolina Press
• Publication date: 1997
• ISBN 10: 0807846201
• ISBN 13: 9780807846209
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 262