Message from the Editor

Welcome to the first 2003 issue of Security and Defense Studies Review. The themes of articles in this issue range from examinations of the evolving composition and roles and missions of the armed forces in our hemisphere, to the difficulties of institutionalizing civilian leadership in defense in newly formed Ministries of Defense, and to a discussion of the challenges to creating a single security “regime” that can respond to the diverse security concerns of nations in the hemisphere. Manuel Antonio Fernández-Villacañas Marin addresses the question of building a Cultura de Defensa. As this is an issue that is frequently raised in discussions in our region – and many friends will recall my observing that I’m not quite sure what they mean by this phrase -- it is worth citing his definition or justification for creating a culture of defense.

“…en un contexto en que no se percibe, en general, la habitual amenaza de invasión del territorio y si la presencia de un nuevo y diverso conjunto de riesgos (es el caso del terrorismo internacional, el narcotráfico, el tráfico de armas convencionales o de destrucción masiva, el crimen organizado, etc.) muchos de los cuales son soportados por la entrada en acción de grupos anónimos dispuestos a conseguir sus objetivos a costa de la inseguridad y desestabilización social internacional, no resulta tan necesaria la disposición de los ciudadanos a tomar las armas para defender su país y si el respaldo público a la acción exterior de las Fuerzas Armadas, el apoyo a los presupuestos de defensa y el reconocimiento social de la profesión militar. Se trata de un planeamiento mas limitado de los que durante años se ha entendido como conciencia de defensa, pero más acorde con la realidad social global de nuestros días.”

Maria Celina d’Araujo, in “Pós-modernidade, sexo e gênero nas forças armadas” examines the attitudes toward, and roles of, women and homosexuals in selected Latin American and NATO countries. She analyzes these matters in the context of emerging liberal democratic societies in Latin America and how this is reflected in who serves, or does not, in the military. Her work is exploratory, and leaves plenty of room for further investigation on this important aspect of military sociology in the region.
Ricardo Enrique Neeb Cantarero in “La participación de policías civiles en operaciones de paz y el caso chileno” takes a look at the increasingly important roles of both traditional and paramilitary police in peacekeeping, peacemaking, and peacebuilding operations. He deals adroitly with the problems of soldiers as cops, police in unstable situations (reintroducing the concept of constabulary forces) and the problems of host country police culture and concerns with human rights and corruption. He uses his own country, Chile, as a case study. His work invites comparative study and investigation. Professor Neeb’s contribution is based on his presentation at REDES 2002, which was recognized as one of the conference’s Outstanding Papers.

Manuel Antonio Fernández-Villacañas Marín in “Aplicaciones del marketing social a la difusión, el fomento y el cambio de la cultura de defensa” addresses the challenges to building societal understanding, support and responsibility for (defense) requirements and objectives. He proposes a “marketing” approach, used successfully by businesses and social causes alike to “selling” a “culture of defense.” Though the author’s case is Spain, the approach is equally relevant in this hemisphere.

Luis Alexandre Fuccille describes and analyzes the creation of the Brazilian Ministry of Defense in “A criação do Ministério da Defesa no Brazil: entre o esforço modernizador e a reforma pendente”. He describes many of the pre-existing arrangements and interests of the armed forces, civil-military relations, and the uneven and sometimes difficult political path to civilian leadership in Defense, and recognizes that it is not yet fully realized. His article invites comparative analyses from other countries. Those interested might also refer to presentations made at REDES 2001 by Angel Flisfisch and José María Llados, which are available on the CHDS website at http://www.ndu.edu/chds/REDES2001/programsp.htm

Finally, Benigno Alarcón Deza takes a theoretical look at the challenge to building a cooperative inter-American security regime when different regions and nations place different priorities on perceived threats, and when the costs of just going along are less than the costs of establishing a robust cooperative system. This article is particularly timely given the on-going debates of the Committee on Hemispheric Security of the OAS and the rescheduled Special Conference on Security.

As always, we encourage comments to the articles in this and previous issues of the Review and invite additional articles and essays. We especially urge those preparing for participation in REDES 2003 at Santiago, Chile to submit works that would be suitable for the Security and Defense Studies Review, as well to us, for consideration.

                        Margaret Daly Hayes
                        Director, Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies and
                        Editor, Security and Defense Studies Review

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