Title: The defense budget in Latin America. The importance of transparency and tools for an independent monitoring


Author: Marcela Donadio (coordinator)
Editorial: RESDAL and SER en el 2000
Place: Buenos Aires, Argentina
Year: 2004
Language: english

In the framework of the budget work project, RESDAL presents The defense budget in Latin America. The importance of transparency and tools for an independent monitoring. The objective of this publication is to offer, in simple language, the vital elements of defense budget analysis and strategies to assist civil society organizations in doing budget work. The first half of the book explains the current state of affairs of the defense sector in Latin America and highlights important considerations when undertaking defense budget work. The second half of the paper aims to provide citizens with the necessary tools for carrying out work on the defense budget, including guidance and suggestions for budget analysis, and strategies for effective budget work. The writing team combines defense and budget work experts. This publication counted with Marcela Donadio (SER en el 2000) coordination, Juan Rial (RESDAL) and Helena Hofbauer (Fundar) as general supervisors, defense experts from RESDAL -Carlos Wellington and Gustavo Sibilla- and organizations and budget work experts, Virginia Lencina (Poder Ciudadano) and Laura Malajovich (CIPPEC). This publication was made possible with the support of OSIDEV. Complete Book


TABLE OF CONTENTS

- Prologue

- Introduction

PART ONE

1. The states and national defense: a perspective on the sector
1.1 The State
1.2 State, civil society and political regime
1.3 Military organizations and national defense
1.4 The budget as a materialization of power

2. Rationale and characteristics of the defense sector
2.1 Defense is a public good
2.2 Defense implies managing sensitive information
2.3 Defense is not always a matter of public attention
2.4 Defense is a continuous need

3. Defense budget transparency
3.1 Independence in defense budget development and oversight
3.2 Reliability
3.3 Need for civilian control and transparency of the defense sector

PART TWO

4. Civil society’s budget work: strengthening transparency and accountability
4.1 The budget cycle
4.2 Key elements for independent public budget analysis and control
4.3 Some suggestions on budget analysis

5. The public budget: a language that can be learned
5.1 The national budget
5.2 Why is fiscal transparency important?
5.3 How is the budget broken down and what does each classification tell us?
5.4 What should be taken into account when analyzing fiscal figures?

6. Initial Suggestions around the analysis of the defense budget
6.1 Who does the spending?
6.2 What is it spent for?
6.3 What is it spent on?
6.4 How is spending funded?
6.5 Where should we look for information?

7. Strategies for the influence of civil society on the defense budget
7.1 Influence and participation. concept and scope
7.2 Steps towards the influence of civil society

Annexes
Annex 1: Various types of budget analysis
Annex 2: Reference documents and sites for budget work
Annex 3: Fiscal data available to citizens
Annex 4: Terminology guidance
Annex 5: International sources for defense expenditure
Annex 6: The Planning, Programming and Budgeting System (PPBS)