Argentina: Legality or disobedience?

Abstract

Thirty-five years ago, Argentina ended its history of military coups to enter a democratic period. The Argentine military, who had held an abhorrent record of authoritarianism and violence, was forced to abandon its leading role in politics. The process of democratization depended on the restoration of the rule of law. The armed forces were subjected to legal processes stemming from their human rights abuses during the “Dirty War” as well as significant budget and personnel cuts. Their power was diminished. But their influence on defense policy did not end. Argentina, compared to other countries in the region, would advance by enacting defense and democratic policies that safeguarded citizens’ rights by establishing a legal separation between defense and security. Despite standing out in state capacity for civilian control, the directives of defense policy have been relegated to the urgency of various political and economic crises.