Board of Directors and Network Members
Mission
The Security and Defense Network of Latin America (RESDAL) was created in 2001 to promote the institutionalization of the state's security and defense functions within a framework of democracy, by strengthening civilian capacities.
Since the emergence of democratization in Latin America in the 1980’s, the issue of civil-military relations during the transition has been the object of study and the basis for a large number of national and international initiatives. By the mid 90’s, many consolidating democracies seemed to have solved the crucial issue of subordinating the military to their constitutional governments. However, the consolidation of democracy began to lose some ground, mostly because democracies failed to improve the living standards of the people of Latin America. Security, defense and civil-military relations once again became key issues inherent to democratic governance.
Faced with this context, many experts who had been working on various aspects of democratic governance realized there was a need to seek answers to this new phenomenon beyond the sphere of personal and local efforts. We begin with the principle that different realities can still share features in common, this inevitably points to the need to communicate local experiences accumulated in each corner of this hemisphere, and to embark in a common search for answers both at the theoretical and practical levels.
This need has encouraged us to create a cooperative network, which we formally launched in September 2001, with the concerted efforts of many and the initial support of the National Endowment for Democracy (NED).
Objectives and skills
RESDAL’s basic objectives are:
- To strengthen the capacity of civil society groups, academics and government institutions that work in the field of civil-military relations, defense and security.
- To promote cooperation between institutions and individuals involved in the area of civil-military relations, defense and security.
- To monitor civil-military trends in Latin America and explore practical solutions.
- To educate civilians about the challenges in the region’s security, the role of the military and civilian responsibilities in strengthening democracy.
- To provide a centralized, accessible resource for gathering information and communicating activities related to security and defense issues.
Through RESDAL, it is possible to approach various aspects of Security and Defense issues of young democracies in Latin America in their different phases of evolution, namely: stages of transition, consolidation and potential moments of regression these democracies may undergo.
Members who have joined the Network are valuable human capital at the academic and practical levels, and are committed to working in cooperation. This implies a horizontal networking effort, dedicated to the design and use of a wide range of instruments to allow civilians of the hemisphere to effectively and efficiently manage the sensitive issues of defense and security.
RESDAL strives to bring together not only individual expertise but also collective governmental, non-governmental, academic or political knowledge, regardless of whether it comes from the civil or military sphere. As a result, we are able to end the old contradiction that views these issues as antagonistic simply because they are approached differently by military and civilians.
Current programs
RESDAL develops its activities through tools, that when used in interaction, reinforce the best practices in the area of security, defense and civil-military relations, by tailoring to each nation’s reality and needs.
RESDAL's main programs include:
RESDAL website
Our website is the resource for centralized information, expressing the dynamics of the network and bringing our members together. Its goal is to be a site for consultation for people who need tools for policy-making in the area as well as academic and non-government information that will support the creation of civil society institutions. It is the complement to RESDAL’s in-site action. The Database contains:
- Legal and political instruments
- National and regional experiences
- Academic information
- Consulting library
RESDAL newsletter
Published monthly, this publication provides the reader with an updated and specialized view on the perspectives of democratic governance in the region. Its pages include:
- News analysis written by experts from each country.
- Editorials.
- Scheduled activities and projects.
Comparative Atlas of Security and Defense in Latin America
The experience of developing democratic practices in the region has proved that in order to make decisions or carry out debates, insight into comparable experiences is the greatest asset for those seeking to design or analyze new public policies. With the support of the Open Society Institute, RESDAL has developed and posted a Comparative Atlas, one of its main research projects. Its structure provides users with knowledge, decision-making tools and considerations on the experience of different countries. It contains the following:
- National Legal Frameworks
- Political Definitions
- Defense System Organization
- Budgets
- Parliamentary Competencies
- Defense Ministries
- The Armed Forces
- Education for Defense
Transparency and Quality in Defense Budgets Program
Promoting transparency and evaluating political decisions reflected in national budget allocation are key aspects of the institutionalization process. In the case of security and defense, this RESDAL Program addresses these issues through case studies, budget data reports and especially designed tools that can be applied in different countries by civilians involved in the policy formulation and supervision:
- Methodology to analyze defense budgets.
- A guide to develop strategies for civil society advocacy.
Congress and Defense Program
Congress is an privileged actor in creating and caring for the institutional memory, which in time will preserve democratic coexistence and the consensus building process. Particularly in the field of security and defense, it is essential to help build and later maintain responsible, capable parliamentary action, for congress to fulfill its role in redesigning legal frameworks consistent with a democratic régime and the civil control of both security and armed forces. This is the purpose of an action that RESDAL initiated in 2003, by creating a specific network dedicated to Parliaments and Defense. Its main products are:
- Methodology to evaluate the functioning of defense committees.
- Basic training for parliamentary action in security and defense.
Defense Ministries Program
The civil leadership of Defense Ministries is a core issue in the region. In spite of limited institutional capacities, these organizations are forced to deal with sensitive security matters generated by both the current international scene and domestic power relationships in each country. With this program, RESDAL proposes to investigate and create tools which comprehend:
- The history, structure and responsibilities of Defense Ministries in different countries.
- Civil liability in conducting defense policies.
- Comparative experiences.
Support Visits
Support visits are aimed at strengthening institutional capabilities, and to developing the institutions activities. Fundamentally, they focus on:
- Holding awareness seminars on political, academic and military issues.
- Interviewing key actors.
- Teaching workshops and training courses.
- Supporting the organizational development of local institutions.
Executive Secretariat:
SER en el 2000 (Seguridad Estratégica Regional)
Av. Corrientes 1785 – 5º. “J”
(1041) Buenos Aires, Argentina
Tel/Fax: (54-11) 4371-3822 / (54-11) 4371-5522