Rethinking Military Politics: Brazil and the Southern Cone

by Alfred Stepan

In Rethinking Military Politics the author takes a new look at themes raised in his earlier work on the state, the breakdown of democracy, and the military. The reader of this book will gain a fresh understanding of new democracies and democratic movements throughout the world and their attempts to understand and control to military. An earlier version of this book has been a controversial best seller in Brazil.

192 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 1988

Reviews

[Karina Rodrigues · Rating 5 out of 5]

The distinction the author makes between political society, civil society and the state is remarkable. Most of recent political science studies focus only in the elected rulers, forgetting the enhancement of democratic participation and the empowerment of the organized civil society.
His definition of civilian control over the military is based on two main elements: military prerogatives and military constestation. Since the book was published in 1988, many of those prerogatives have changed. We can notice other types of military prerogatives, like the military being responsible for operations traditionally attributed to the police, and also many peacekeeping operations.

[João Martins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very helpful to understand the Brazilian dictatorship.