Abstract
During the 1960s, as a result of the perceived Communist threat, the mission of the Brazilian armed forces was thought to be internally oriented, that is, the high command assigned priority to internal security. After the early 1970s, with the elimination of an armed leftist challenge-and in the face of ominous international developments-the strategic perceptions of military leaders modified. The adoption of aggressive, seemingly militaristic policies by Argentina, combined with Soviet-Cuban expansionism and the current technological revolution in warfare, markedly heightened threat perception in Brazilian strategic circles and led to a reorientation of mission toward external defense. The renewed emphasis on professionalism has been reflected in the development of defense-related technology, weapons modernization, an increase in troop levels and efforts to improve the quality of military personnel, and the creation of new units and regional commands; it perhaps likewise influenced the military's decision to relinquish direct political control in 1985.
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