MILITARY PREROGATIVES AND THE STALEMATE OF CHILEAN CIVIL-MILITARY RELATIONS

This article examines the state of Chilean civil-military relations si nce the transition to civilian rule, taking Stepan's discussion about the importance of military prerogatives as its frame of reference. Aft er discussing the background of the 1980 constitution and the relevanc e of the National Security Doctrine, it examines in detail four prerog atives granted to the military. It then reviews the reforms that have been enacted or proposed, and assesses the democratizing impact of eac h. It concludes by noting the stalemated state of Chilean civil-milita ry relations, attributing it to a clash of incongruous political cultu res, and argues that until this is resolved either through a process o f political learning or an open confrontation, the Chilean armed force s and Chile's democratic government will confront each other in an une asy truce punctuated by recurrent crises.