Argentina, Brazil, defense: the evolution of doctrines, norms and defense structures of both countries in the last four decades

Abstract

After overcoming the Upper Parana dams crisis, Argentina and Brazil replaced their old policies of confrontation and balance of power, by cooperation, that would increase with the advent of democracy and especially with the establishment and development of MERCOSUR. In defense, both countries abandoned the old doctrines of the Cold War, and changed their defense structures, setting with different depths civilian control over their armed forces. Both made also several changes in the composition and deployment of their armed forces. The paper examines this evolution, showing similarities and differences that help to understand the situation of the two countries on defense cooperation.