Global Capitalism, Democracy, and Civil-Military Relations in Colombia

William Aviles

Description

Through the lens of global capitalism theory, William Avilés examines democratization and civil-military relations in Colombia to explain how social and international forces led to the ostensibly contradictory outcome of democratic and economic reform coinciding with political repression. Focusing on the administrations in power from 1990 to the present, Avilés argues that the reduction in the institutional powers of the military within the state reflected changes in the structure of the global economy, the emergence of globalizing technocrats and politicians, and shifts in U.S. foreign policy strategies toward "democracy promotion." These same factors explain Colombia's establishment of a low-intensity democracy—a structure of elite rule in which the strategies of coercion (state and para-state repression) and consensus (competitive elections, civilian control over the military) maintain control and legitimacy. In the age of capitalist globalization, a low-intensity democracy is most concomitant with neoliberalism, establishing the political and economic environment most suitable to the investments of transnational corporations.

List of Tables and Figures
Acknowledgments
Introduction

1. Globalization, State Theory, and Civil-Military Relations

2. Counterinsurgency, Civil-Military Relations, and Low-Intensity Democracy: A Historical Context

3. Civil-Military Relations and the Reform of Low-Intensity Democracy

4. The Preservation of Civilian Authority in the Samper Administration

5. Military Impunity and Symbolic Reform

6. Parastate Repression and Civilian Tolerance

7. The Continuation of Low-Intensity Democracy: The Pastrana and Uribe Administrations

Conclusion
Notes
References
Index

Sujets

• Latin American
• América del Sur
• International relations
• South America
• Latin America
• History of the Americas
• Central America
• SS Central America
• Caribbean

Informations

• Publié par: State University of New York Press
• Date de parution: 01 février 2012
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9780791482049
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

Extrait

Global Capitalism, Democracy, and CivilMilitary Relations in Colombia

SUNY series in Global Politics

James N. Rosenau, editor

G L O B A L C A P I TA L I S M , D E M O C R A C Y, A N D C I V I L  M I L I TA RY R E L AT I O N S I N C O L O M B I A



WILLIAM AVILÉS

S TAT E U N I V E R S I T Y O F N E W Y O R K P R E S S

Published by State University of New York Press, Albany

© 2006 State University of New York

All rights reserved

Printed in the United States of America

No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission. No part of this book may be stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means including electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior permission in writing of the publisher.

For information, address State University of New York Press, 194 Washington Avenue, Suite 305, Albany, NY 12210-2384

Production by Christine L. Hamel Marketing by Anne M. Valentine

Library of Congress CataloginginPublication Data

Avilés, William, 1971– Global capitalism, democracy, and civil-military relations in Colombia / William Avilés. p. cm. — (SUNY series in global politics) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0-7914-6699-X (hardcover : alk. paper) 1. Democracy—Colombia. 2. Civil-military relations—Colombia. 3. Colombia— Politics and government—1974– 4. Colombia—Economic policy. I. Title. II. Series.

JL2881.A95 2006 322'.5'09861—dc22

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

2005012802

List of Tables and Figures

Acknowledgments

Introduction

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

Contents

Globalization, State Theory, and Civil-Military Relations

Counterinsurgency, Civil-Military Relations, and Low-Intensity Democracy: A Historical Context

Civil-Military Relations and the Reform of Low-Intensity Democracy

The Preservation of Civilian Authority in the Samper Administration

Military Impunity and Symbolic Reform

Parastate Repression and Civilian Tolerance

The Continuation of Low-Intensity Democracy: The Pastrana and Uribe Administrations

Conclusion

Notes

References

Index

v

vii

ix

1

7

25

51

71

89

105

123

141

149

165

187

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3.1

3.2

3.3

4.1

4.2

6.1

7.1

7.2

5.1

List of Tables and Figures

TA B LE S

The Transnational Elite in the Gaviria Administration (1990–1994)

Presidential Commission for the Reform of Public Administration

Civilian Advances in Military and Security Policy, 1990–1994

The Transnational Elite in the Samper Administration (1994–1998)

Colombian Defense Budget, 1990–2000

Share of Responsibility for Noncombatant Deaths and Forced Disappearances

The Transnational Elite in the Pastrana and Uribe Administrations (1998–2006)

Top Contributors to Federal Election Campaigns by Transnational Corporations with Investments in Latin America, 1995–2000

F I G U R E

The Growth of the Guerrilla Movement, 1980–1999

vii

5

6

63

64

7

3

84

111

126

133

92

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Acknowledgments

I would like to express my thanks to the friends, family, colleagues, and insti- tutions who helped me with this book. The financial and academic support that I received as a graduate student in the Department of Political Science at the University of California at Riverside was vital to the research that I con- ducted. I would specifically like to thank my graduate advisors, David Pion- Berlin, Ronald Chilcote, and Gonzalo Sánchez, for their advice, time, and insight. David Pion-Berlin’s support since the very beginning of this project has been essential, and I am grateful for his continued support. I would also like to thank George A. Gonzalez, Richard Avilés, Soleimain Kiasatpour, and Susan E. Honeyman, who all read significant portions of this manuscript and provided invaluable feedback. The recommendations that I received from the anonymous reviewers significantly improved the manuscript, and I greatly appreciate their input. I also thank Dr. Michael Rinella, Christine Hamel, and Camille Hale of SUNY Press for their assistance in the completion of this manuscript. Many of the ideas that guide this work were stimulated by the years of debates, arguments and discussions that I have had with George A. Gonza- lez. I am thankful for his friendship and intellectual support. I thank my part- ner, Susan E. Honeyman, for her love, patience, and support during the writ- ing of this book. I also want to thank Kenneth Fernendez, whose constant assistance and encouragement will always be appreciated. A special thanks is due to the Bogotá universities that allowed me to utilize their libraries to con- duct research, specifically the National University, the University of Los Andes, and the Externado University. My family members in Colombia were extremely generous and supportive during my research trips, and I am grate- ful to them. I greatly appreciated the hospitality of the many other Colom- bians who went out of their way to assist me upon hearing about my project.

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