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“Protected Democracies” and Military Guardianship: Political Transitions in Latin America, 1978-1993*
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 02 January 2018
Extract
In 1979, over two-thirds of Latin America's people were living under military rule. By 1993, however, not a single military regime remained in Central or South America or the Spanish-speaking Caribbean. Elected presidents (even if former generals, as in the case of Paraguay's first post-Stroessner government) and legislatures replaced military dictators and juntas. Foreign observers certified the “fairness” of elections in Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Guatemala, and Paraguay — even when outgoing military regimes permitted elections only after certain parties or candidates had been excluded from participation. Political parties and opponents of incumbent governments operated openly. Media censorship declined, and fewer cases of politically-motivated abuses of human rights were reported. “Democratization” seemed to be underway.
- Type
- Research Article
- Information
- Journal of Interamerican Studies and World Affairs , Volume 36 , Issue 2 , Summer 1994 , pp. 105 - 189
- Copyright
- Copyright © University of Miami 1994
Footnotes
This article is a revised version of a paper prepared for the XVIII International Meeting of the Latin American Studies Association, held in Atlanta (GA), 9-12 March 1994. The author wishes to express his appreciation to J.S. Fitch, Eduardo Gamarra, Elizabeth Lira, Felipe Agüero, Mathew McCubbins, Paul Drake, Iván Jaksic, and Vincent Ostrom for their helpful comments and suggestions as well as to three anonymous readers for their useful, worthwhile suggestions. However, the author claims sole responsibility for any errors and/or omissions.
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