Whatever happened to South America's splendid little wars? - Small Wars & Insurgencies

Whatever happened to South America's splendid little wars?

Small Wars & Insurgencies
Volume 22, Issue 2, 2011, Pages 322 - 351

Author: W.Alejandro Sanchez Nieto

http://bit.ly/jVA8GK

Abstract:
South America has gained international media attention due to its ongoing arms race, with politicians and analysts warning about the possibility of war. Nevertheless, since the Chaco War in the 1930s, the region has seldom faced major inter-state wars, all of which have been short-lived and with relatively few casualties. This article will discuss in greater detail the ongoing arms race in South America, portraying it as a race 'of levels', with not all countries carrying out massive weaponry purchases. Finally, I will discuss regional geopolitics, geosecurity and integration as part of an analysis regarding the unlikelihood of war.


Keywords: South America; inter-state wars; tensions; arms race; border dispute; integration; Peru; Chile; Colombia; Brazil; Venezuela; USA; Russia
Affiliation: Council on Hemispheric Affairs, Washington, DC, USA