508 Journal of the Spanish Institute for Strategic Studies N. 4 / 2014 of defence through the transfer of areas of work pertaining to the armed forces to other state bodies;32 and (3) a questioning of the role of the military.33 Similarly, a fourth topic is of particular relevance in Argentina, Chile and Uruguay; that is (4) the social debts left behind by previous military regimes. A climate favourable to the actions of government as regards the disappeared prevails as well as, in particular, a firm consensus among citizens as to the violation of human rights as a major outstanding issue. 6. SUPPORT FOR MILITARY COUPS Another way of approaching the issue of public opinion and the armed forces is to analyse the backing provided in these countries to the idea of a military government. This analysis must be undertaken with extreme caution as it is highly probable that no explicit correlation between trust in the armed forces and support for a military authoritarian government exists. Conversely, the rise in popular support for this sentiment could be motivated by the failure of democratic regimes to satisfy the basic needs of the population, to boost economic growth or to address the growing concern felt by citizens regarding security, criminality and delinquency. With respect to the attitudes displayed by Latin American citizens concerning military governments, the Latinobarómetro Report from 201134 reveals that 66 % of those surveyed state that they would not support a military government under any circumstance (versus 63% in 2010). Guatemala is the country least likely to dismiss a military government with only 40% stating they would do this. That means that for the US and only 2% for the rest of the countries in Latin America (survey conducted by CARI). In Chile, preferences show 38% in favour of Brazil, 9% in favour of Argentina, 4% for Uruguay and 3% for Bolivia. In Brazil, 99% of respondents considered that relations with the US were vital for the country’s interest. This was 96% for Argentina and 56% for Bolivia. All of these examples are cited by Malamud (2008), op. cit., pp. 2-3. 32 Malamud notes the strong political trend towards transferring responsibilities and positions of power historically held by the armed forces to other state agencies in the Southern Cone. Nonetheless, there is a fundamental difference between the two countries mentioned: in Argentina the trust that citizens place in the institution is comparatively low (mainly in urban areas); in Brazil, however, con-fidence in the armed forces among the population is very high. Thus, 69% of respondents viewed the armed forces as a trustworthy institution. Malamud (2008), op. cit., p. 3. 33 Argentinian citizens maintain that the main aim of the armed forces is to “defend sovereignty” (31%). This is followed in joint second by “combatting drug trafficking” and “maintaining operational capacity” with 20% each, then by “fighting terrorism” with 17% and, lastly, “participating in peace operations” with 12% (Malamud, 2008), op. cit., p. 4. 34 Latinobarómetro Corporation (2011), op. cit.
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