The contribution of the Peruvian Armed Forces to the socio-economic development of the country.

Abstract

The armed forces have been considered wasteful and nonproductive institutions by many critics. Defense expenditures are viewed as a negative factor to growth in developing countries. However, given the social, political, and economic conditions in those countries the armed forces often play an important role in modernization and social change. There appear to be three models explaining this phenomenon: the military's natural role, its direct social and economic activities, and cases of military rule. In the case of the Peruvian Armed Forces this evolution has been played through their natural military role. Its social and economic benefits resulted from the primary mission of the military, the direct social and economic activities performed in the accomplishment of their secondary mission, and by their rule of the country. This role is played without neglecting their defense role and is due to the special conditions existing in the country, such that the role hardly could be performed by other public or private institutions. This study attempts to organize cultural and military factors into a map of military entrance in social change.