The construction of the notion of “new threats” arose from some US government agencies (among them the Southern Command), and lobbyists for the region’s armed forces developed and spread that doctrine. Its adoption in each country, associated with the “war” on drug trafficking and terrorism, is a regional process that takes on distinct forms and has consequences of varying severity in different places.
This publication reflects research on how these processes occur in Latin America: who finances them, how armies and police forces are trained and equipped, what operations are under way, in which countries are they deployed, and with what objectives.
At the same time, the consequences are analyzed: the militarization of internal security, the depiction of social agendas such as poverty and migration as security problems, and the human rights violations that occur where the armed forces have taken to the streets to “combat” crime.
Índice
1
The impact of “new threats” on security policy
2
The toughening and militarization of security policies in Latin America
3
The impact of “new threats” on human rights
