Citation

Nieto WAS. Small Wars Insurg. 2011; 22(2): 322-351.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/09592318.2011.573413

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

South America has gained international media attention due to its ongoing arms race, with politicians and analysts warning about the possibility of war. Nevertheless, since the Chaco War in the 1930s, the region has seldom faced major inter-state wars, all of which have been short-lived and with relatively few casualties. This article will discuss in greater detail the ongoing arms race in South America, portraying it as a race 'of levels', with not all countries carrying out massive weaponry purchases. Finally, I will discuss regional geopolitics, geosecurity and integration as part of an analysis regarding the unlikelihood of war.

Language: en

Keywords

arms race; border dispute; Brazil; Chile; Colombia; integration; inter-state wars; Peru; Russia; South America; tensions; USA; Venezuela