Ecuador: the reasons behind the decline in military coups and government

Abstract

Latin America has an extended history of military coups and governments among its countries, such as Argentina in 1976, Ecuador in 2000, Guatemala in 1956, and many more. The patterns of intermittent military coups have been a constant for a long period in Latin America, for it was depicted as a standard component of the political process. These recurring patterns have created a milestone in the political, economic, and social affairs of Latin American counties. The purpose of military coups was to enhance stability, defend the military interest by increasing the military budget, and expand the economy. Nonetheless, these patterns have significantly decreased when many Latin American states shifted to democracy substituting military-dominated governments with elected civilian officials. Analyzing and understanding the declension of these continuous patterns is significant since it has altered the political systems in many Latin American countries as well as partially detached Latin America from the military control of major giants such as the United States. Taking Ecuador as evidence, this paper considers social movements, military policies, and foreign intervention as necessary elements that led to the control and suppression of the military.