Militarization is a term that I often avoid. It comes with baggage from the 1970s and 80s. Nonetheless, I’m re-engaging the term after reading, “Remilitarization in Central America: A Comparative and Regional Analysis” written by IBI Consulting, because it provides a renewed perspective on militarization in present-day authoritarian contexts.
The Cold War played itself out in our hemisphere during the 1960s, 70s and 80s, a period in which dictators and military governments were not uncommon. By the 1990s democratically elected governments were the norm in almost the entire hemisphere.
By then Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Nicaragua, had elected governments. Militaries were still powerful, but they took a backseat to civilian leaders. While demilitarization didn’t really happen, the trend line wasn’t in their favor.
The IBI study documents how military institutions are gaining expanded roles, powers and money, as authoritarian leaders and oligarchs work with military institutions to bending nations to their will.
In the context of authoritarianism, militarization doesn’t happen overnight. We don’t see military coups like those of earlier decades. It happens when elected authorities cede civilian roles and authorities to the military.
This kind of militarization is scary because it is incremental. When there was a coup, everyone noticed. Civilians went to the streets to protest. Other countries – like the US – cut off diplomatic relations or aid. When militarization takes place at a slow roll it might get a day of news, but then we all move on. Furthermore, when the president – commander-in-chief – and Congress give militaries powers, it takes place within a “democratic” context, giving it a stamp of approval.
The examples of militarization in Central America documented in the report include militaries: repressing environmental activists and indigenous communities seeking to defend their land rights; having economic interests in the mining, timber, and fishing industries; having significant non-defense related economic investments; roles in agriculture; running prisons; and supporting the unconstitutional mass arrest of alleged gang members.
We need to get over the idea that if the military doesn’t assume control of the government, its other roles don’t matter. The military is a key tool that oligarchic interests and elected authoritarians use to create national environments in which rights and economic development is limited.
* Joy Olson is the former Executive Director of the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA), a research and advocacy organization working to advance human rights. Twitter: @JoyLeeOlson
