Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro takes part in a video conference with members of the military in Caracas [Reuters/Miraflores]
Fabiana Sofia Perera, Americas Quarterly: How Chávez Broke Venezuela's Military
The transformation of the armed forces has direct implications for the country's crisis— and a possible transition.
Chavismo imposed deep changes to many areas of the Venezuelan government, but the transformation in the armed forces — and more broadly in civil-military relations — stands out as a particularly extreme case. The basis of this shift was the blurring of lines between security and defense institutions under the “Bolivarian Revolution.” During the governments of Hugo Chávez and Nicolás Maduro, the military turned away from protecting the state and its citizens and toward defending the chavista regime.
In theory, defense institutions deal with preserving the territorial integrity of the state “from the borders out,” while security agencies protect individuals and their property “from the borders in.” This distinction is important for defense and security institutions’ ability to fulfill their missions and cooperate with peers across borders.
Read more ....
Update: Wiretaps and Conspiracies: An Inside Look at Venezuela's Military (Emilie Sweigart, Americas Quarterly)
WNU Editor: A sobering read.
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