Narrow self-interest, not political program, characterizes Brazil’s military

Brazilian military men have never lacked confidence — that they could deliver stability, economic progress, and modernization, all nominally in the national interest. The history of the military’s political interventions, however, is marked by self-interest. 

Consider the army’s first foray into government. 

Following the devastation of the Paraguayan War, the military brass was not satisfied with a return to the antebellum status quo, characterized by poor remuneration and substandard equipment. Seeking a more prominent role in national affairs, in 1889 the military put an end to the monarchical system that had been in place for over 70 years and oversaw the creation of the First Republic. 

Army Field Marshal Manuel Deodoro da Fonseca became Brazil’s first president. As historian June Hahner observed, the military immediately moved to shore up its position. “A month after the creation of the new regime, the number of cavalry, artillery, and infantry corps was increased; two more artillery units were added to the existing eight, and six more infantry battalions joined the 30 already existing ones … Officer salaries were increased by perhaps 40 or 50 percent within a few months of the overthrow of the Empire, and the war department’s budget continued to rise.” 

The issue of civilian politicians’ deference towards military officers was a recurrent political conflict — one that precipitated myriad crises throughout the 20th century, most notably the 1964 coup. Following the end of military rule in the 1980s, poor remuneration remained a sore spot for the Armed Forces.

Former President José Sarney (1985-1990) “wisely raised military salaries,” as Frank McCann put it, but “the atmosphere of indiscipline could not help but worry the drafters of the new constitution.” After...