Prosecution of Former Military Leaders in Newly Democratic Nations: The Cases of Argentina,Greece,and South Korea

FROM THE PUBLISHER

"During the 1970s and 1980s, many countries with military governments chose to adopt more democratic ones as their citizens uncovered evidence of horrific violations of human rights such as torture and execution." "These newly established civilian governments were confronted with the question of whether their former military leaders should be prosecuted for their crimes. Often, the threat of military intervention (to protect their own) hovered in the background." This book focuses on the countries of Argentina, Greece, and South Korea. It examines the effects that bringing military leaders to trial can have on the transition to democracy. In Argentina, the trials of former military leaders sparked a rebellion by the armed forces. In Greece and South Korea, the trials met with little response from the military.

SYNOPSIS

During their transitions from military rule to democracy, the countries of Argentina, Greece, and South Korea each put military leaders on trial for various crimes including human rights abuses and treason. In this study, Roehrig (political science, Cardinal Stritch U.) considers the varying results of this policy in order to show how democratic governments can hold former military regimes accountable without provoking their intervention and return to power.