Defending la Patria, or homeland, is the historical mission claimed by Latin American armed forces. For la Patria is a comprehensive narrative history of the military's political role in Latin America in national defense and security.
Latin A

Chapter 1 Introduction: Armed Forces, Militarylore, and la Patria Chapter 2 The Iberian Military Tradition: From the Kingdoms of Las Espanas to la Patria Chapter 3 Inventing la Patria: Wars, Caudillismo, and Politics, 1810-1885 Chapter 4 Foreign Military Missions and la Patria Chapter 5 Variations on Patriotic Themes: la Patria and the Armed Forces from Depression to Cold War Chapter 6 La Patria and the Cold War: Pearl Harbor to the Bay of Pigs Chapter 7 La Patria and the Cold War: Bay of Pigs to the Gulf of Fonseca Chapter 8 La Patria, Regional Security, and 'Democracy' Chapter 9 La Patria, the Armed Forces, and Human Rights Chapter 10 La Patria and Perestroika: Toward the Twenty-first Century Chapter 11 Glossary Chapter 12 Bibliography Chapter 13 Index