| It is impossible to teach about Latin American politics without focusing on the armed forces. More than twenty years ago my dear friend and colleague, Thomas M. Davies, Jr., asked me to join him in researching and writing about Latin American military institutions. We edited two books together on military topics, both now in their third editions, and have shared years of conversation, banter, and seminars. While I have written For la Patria, Tom's inspiration, wit, and intensity are in every chapter. |
| Generous colleagues have read all or part of the manuscript and made numerous suggestions for improvements. I usually took their advice but now cannot properly cite their particular contributions. They include Carlos Acua, Felipe Agero, Charles Andrain, William Beezley, Mark Burkholder, Paul Drake, Judith Ewell, J. Samuel Fitch, Gonzalo Palacios, Ivn Jaksic*, Lyman Johnson, Elizabeth Lira, Mara Loveman, John Martz, Patrice McSherry, Tommie Sue Montgomery, Deborah Norden, Frederick Nunn, Antonio Pal, David Scott Palmer, David Pion-Berlin, Marcial Antonio Riquelme, Frank Safford, Lars Schoultz, and Augusto Varas. In addition to reading various drafts of the manuscript and providing valuable suggestions, Elizabeth Lira generously assisted in collecting photographs and other material reproduced in the book. She has also been an inspiration at every stage of thinking about and writing this book. At Scholarly Resources, Richard Hopper, Carolyn Travers, Ann M. Aydelotte, Sharon L. Beck, and Linda Pote Musumeci have been consistently encouraging and patient. This is the third book on which I have been privileged to have their help. |
| Students at San Diego State University in undergraduate courses on political change in Latin America and in seminars on the military have "tested" the manuscript and helped me to improve it for classroom use. To them I am indebted for their patience with rough drafts. Special mention must go to Major Douglas Keepper and Captain Joe Lontus (U.S. Army) for their comments as students of civil-military relations and also as informal consultants regarding the manuscript. Thomas Reichart, a talented future historian of Latin America, carefully assisted in preparing the bibliography and editing the notes. |
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The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of the American National Standard for permanence of paper for printed library materials, Z39.48, 1984.
