Session Abstract

"Soldiers and Civilians" examines the ways in which the armed forces of Argentina, Bolivia, and Mexico have shaped various aspects of civil society during the first half of the twentieth century. While much has been written on the roles of these militaries during times of military dictatorship and armed conflict, the impact of the military during  civilian rule has been largely ignored. Conscription, martial law, military justice, military districts and bases, and individual officers'  involvement in local politics had a profound impact on local and national political practices. Militarization of everyday life not only shaped civilian-military relations, but  diverse popular and official notions of gender, family, class, and race.