Attention Deficits: Why Politicians and Scholars Ignore Defense Policy in Latin America

Abstract

In an era of widespread democracy in Latin America, attention to civil-military relations and defense policy has become a low priority for both politicians and scholars of the region. Interest has faded with the retreat of militarism and the military in government. Unlike the public debate that national economic, education, or health care policies provoke in most Latin American countries, civil and political society are relatively silent on the issues of national defense. Why do civilian politicians show little interest in investing resources and expertise in defense institutions? Why has there been a parallel drop in scholarly attention as democracies consolidate in the region?