| ID | 105998 |
| Title Proper | Reform, democratization, and counter-insurgency |
| Other Title Information | evaluating the US experience in cold war-era Latin America |
| Language | ENG |
| Author | Brands, Hal |
| Publication | 2011. |
| Summary / Abstract (Note) | Current debate on US counter-insurgency doctrine is dominated by the notion that promoting 'legitimacy' and 'good governance' constitutes a central strategic imperative. This idea is hardly new; during the Cold War US officials often sought to encourage democratization and socio-economic reform as antidotes to revolution in Latin America. This article reviews four such cases - Venezuela during the first half of the 1960s, Guatemala throughout the 1960s, Nicaragua during the late 1970s, and El Salvador during the 1980s. The purpose is to bring a historical perspective to bear on current debates about the feasibility of US counter-insurgency strategy by evaluating the effectiveness of previous campaigns to promote improved governance in developing societies wracked by guerrilla violence. |
| `In' analytical Note | Small Wars and Insurgencies Vol. 22, No. 2; May 2011: p.290-321 |
| Journal Source | Small Wars and Insurgencies Vol. 22, No. 2; May 2011: p.290-321 |
| Key Words | Insurgency ; Governance ; Latin America ; Cold War ; Democratization ; Legitimacy ; Guerrillas ; Alliance for Progress |