Shopping on line can be easy, simple and save you lots of money. It can also take a lot of your time, frustrate you, and result in unwanted purchases. Now the same can be said for regular high street shopping, but with the vast opportunity presented by the Internet it will pay you to spend a few minutes reading this and understanding how to better optimize your Juntas shopping experience:
1. Compare - without doubt the biggest advantage that the Juntas offers shoppers today is the ability to compare thousands of Juntas at a time. This is a great thing, but not necessarily all the time! Too much can be daunting at times so take advantage of the great comparison sites and where possible let them do the hard work for you.
2. Research - if it has been said it will be on the internet. Ignorance is no longer a justifiable reason for buying the wrong thing. Take the time to research in detail everything that you could possible want to know about
3. Testimonials - don't know anybody that has bought a Juntas? Wrong! If the Juntas is good the internet will let you know. Use the Internet as a friend and get testimonials before you buy.
4. Questions - Got a question about Juntas then search the Forums, FAQ's, Blogs etc. Don't be afraid to ask .....
5. Reputation - Never heard of the company selling Juntas? Don't worry, no reason why you should know every company in the world, but you know someone that does! Use the internet to find out what people are saying about Juntas and build up a picture of their reputation for sales, returns, customer service, delivery etc.
6. Returns - still worried that even after all of the above your Juntas wont be what you want? Check out the returns policy. There is so much competition now that someone, somewhere is bound to offer the terms that you are comfortable with.
7. Feedback - happy with your Juntas then let people know, after all you are depending on others people input in your buying decision, so why not give a little back.
8. Security - check for the yellow padlock on the Juntas site before you buy, and the s after http:/ /i.e. https:// = a secure site
9. Contact - got a question about Juntas, or want to leave a comment then check out the sites contact page. Reputable companies have them and respond.
10. Payment - ready to pay for your Juntas, then use your credit card or PayPal! Be aware of companies that don't accept them, there may be genuine reasons but given the huge amount of choice you have when buying online there is no reason at all not to buy via credit card or PayPal.
A
military dictatorship is a form of government wherein the political power resides with the
military; it is similar but not identical to a
wikt:stratocracy, a state ruled directly by the military.
Nature and typology
Like any
dictatorship, a military dictatorship may be official or unofficial, and as a result may not actually qualify as stratocratic (some military dictators, like Panama's Manuel Noriega, are nominally subordinate to the civil government). Mixed forms also exist, where the military exerts a very strong influence without being entirely dominant.
The declaration by which a military
coup d'état is made official is called a
pronunciamento, from the
Spanish language pronunciamiento, 'proclamation'.
The typical military dictatorship in
Latin America was ruled by a
junta (derived from a Spanish word which can be translated as "conference" or "board"), or a committee composed of several officers, often from the military's most senior leadership, but in other cases (e.g. when their military superiors remained loyal to, or indeed were, the previous regime) less senior, as evidenced by the term
colonels' regime. Other military dictatorships are entirely in the hands of a single officer, usually the senior army commander. In either case, the
chairman of the junta or the single commander may often personally assume office as head of state.
In the Middle East and
Africa,
military governments more often came to be led by a single powerful person, and were autocracy in addition to military dictatorships. Leaders like Idi Amin, Muammar al-Qaddafi, and
Gamal Abdul Nasser worked to develop a personality cult and became the face of the nation inside and outside their countries.
Most military dictatorships are formed after a
coup d'état has overthrown the previous government. One very different pattern was the one followed by Saddam Hussein's regime in
Iraq, which began as a
one-party state ruled by the
Ba'ath Party, but over the course of its existence turned into a military dictatorship (as its leaders donned uniforms and the military became closely involved in the government).Conversely, other military dictatorships may gradually restore significant components of
civilian government while the senior-most military commander still maintains supreme political power. In
Pakistan, ruling Generals Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq (1977-1988) and
Pervez Musharraf (1999 till present) have held singular
referendums to elect themselves
President of Pakistan for a further several years, as well as general elections voting in civilian Prime Ministers (politically subordinate to the President). Despite this, the Pakistan Army maintained a monopoly over the power structure in both cases, with the country's four Subdivisions of Pakistan entirely coming under the
dictatorial military rule of senior generals in the President's cabinet, such as General Rahimuddin Khan's authoritarian and unprecedentedly long rule over
Balochistan (Pakistan), the country's largest province.
In the past, military juntas have justified their rule as a way of bringing political stability for the nation or rescuing it from the threat of "dangerous
ideology". In Latin America the threat of communism was often used, while in the Middle East the desire to oppose Israel and later Islamic fundamentalism proved an important motivating pattern. Military regimes tend to portray themselves as non-partisan, as a "neutral" party that can provide interim leadership in times of turmoil, and also tend to portray civilian politicians as corrupt and ineffective. One of the almost universal characteristics of a military government is the institution of
martial law or a permanent state of emergency.
Although there are exceptions, military regimes usually have little respect for
human rights and use whatever means necessary to silence political opponents. A military regime is also rarely willing to leave power unless forced to by popular revolt, whether active or imminent.
Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East have been common areas for military dictatorships. One of the reasons for this is the fact that the military often has more cohesion and
institutional structure than most of the civilian institutions of society.
Military dictatorships can be contrasted with other forms of dictatorship. For example, in most current and historical Communist states, the center of power rests among civilian party officials, and very careful measures (such as political commissars and frequent rotations) are taken to prevent the military from exercising independent authority.
Since the 1990s, military dictatorships have become less common. Reasons for this include the fact that military dictatorships no longer have much international legitimacy, as well as the fact that many militaries having unsuccessfully ruled many nations are now inclined not to become involved in political disputes. Furthermore, the end of the Cold War and the collapse of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics made it more difficult for military regimes to use the threat of communism as justification for their actions, or to gain support from foreign sources.
As the Cold War began to wind down, in the Middle East, regimes such as those of
Syria and
Egypt that were once clearly military dictatorships have switched to other forms of despotism.
Cases
The following lists are probably incomplete, especially before World War II.
Nations currently under military rule
Nations with a legacy of military dictatorship(s)
In Africa
- Algeria (1965-1994)
- Burkina Faso (1966-1991)
- Burundi (1966-1993)
- Central African Republic (1966-1979, 1981-1993)
- Chad (1975-1991)
- Republic of the Congo (1968-1992)
- Democratic Republic of the Congo (1965-2003)
- Egypt (1952-present)
- Equatorial Guinea (1968-1987)
- Ethiopia (1974-1991)
- The Gambia (1994-1996)
- Guinea (1984-1991)
- Ghana (1966-1969, 1972-1979, 1981-1993)
- Liberia (1980-1990)
- Libya (1969-present)
- Madagascar (1972-1993)
- Mauritania (1978-1992, 2005-2007)
- Niger (1974-1989, 1996-1999)
- Nigeria (1966-1979, 1983-1999)
- Rwanda (1973-1994)
- Sierra Leone (1967-1968, 1992-1996, 1997-1998)
- Somalia (1969-1991; then local militia rule)
- Sudan (1958-1964, 1969-1986, 1989-Present)
- Uganda (1971-1986)
In the Americas
- Argentina (1930-1932, 1943-1946, 1955-58, 1962-1963, 1966-1973, 1976-1983)
- Bolivia (1964-1982)
- Brazil (1930–1934, 1937–1945, 1964-1985)
- Chile (1973-1990)
- Colombia (1953-1957)
- Cuba (1933-1940, 1952-1959)
- Dominican Republic (1844-1978 with a few exceptions)
- Ecuador (1963-1966, 1972-1979)
- El Salvador (1931-1984)
- Guatemala (1931-1944, 1954-1986)
- Haiti (1957-1990, 1991-1994)
- Honduras (1963-1971, 1972-1982)
- Nicaragua (1936-1979)
- Panama (1968-1989)
- Paraguay (1940-1948, 1949-1989)
- Peru (1948-1956, 1968-1980)
- Suriname (1980-1988)
- Uruguay (1973-1985)
- Venezuela (1908-1935, 1952-1958)
In Asia
- Bangladesh (1975-1990)
- Burma/Myanmar(1962-Present)
- Republic of China (local militia rule 1916-1928; military rule 1928-1949)
- Indonesia (1967-1998)
- Iraq (1958-1968, 1979-2003)
- Japan (1932-1945)
- Pakistan (1958-1971, 1978-1988, 1999-Present)
- South Korea (1961-1979, 1980-1988)
- South Vietnam (1963-1975)
- Taiwan (1949-1975)
- Thailand (1933-1957, 1958-1973, 1976-1988, 1991-1992 2006-Present)
In Europe
See also
A
military dictatorship is a form of government wherein the political power resides with the
military; it is similar but not identical to a wikt:stratocracy, a state ruled directly by the military.
Nature and typology
Like any dictatorship, a military dictatorship may be official or unofficial, and as a result may not actually qualify as stratocratic (some military dictators, like Panama's Manuel Noriega, are nominally subordinate to the civil government). Mixed forms also exist, where the military exerts a very strong influence without being entirely dominant.
The declaration by which a military
coup d'état is made official is called a
pronunciamento, from the Spanish language
pronunciamiento, 'proclamation'.
The typical military dictatorship in
Latin America was ruled by a
junta (derived from a Spanish word which can be translated as "conference" or "board"), or a committee composed of several officers, often from the military's most senior leadership, but in other cases (e.g. when their military superiors remained loyal to, or indeed were, the previous regime) less senior, as evidenced by the term
colonels' regime. Other military dictatorships are entirely in the hands of a single officer, usually the senior army commander. In either case, the
chairman of the junta or the single commander may often personally assume office as head of state.
In the
Middle East and Africa, military governments more often came to be led by a single powerful person, and were
autocracy in addition to military dictatorships. Leaders like
Idi Amin, Muammar al-Qaddafi, and
Gamal Abdul Nasser worked to develop a
personality cult and became the face of the nation inside and outside their countries.
Most military dictatorships are formed after a
coup d'état has overthrown the previous government. One very different pattern was the one followed by
Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq, which began as a
one-party state ruled by the
Ba'ath Party, but over the course of its existence turned into a military dictatorship (as its leaders donned uniforms and the military became closely involved in the government).Conversely, other military dictatorships may gradually restore significant components of civilian government while the senior-most military commander still maintains supreme political power. In
Pakistan, ruling Generals
Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq (1977-1988) and Pervez Musharraf (1999 till present) have held singular referendums to elect themselves President of Pakistan for a further several years, as well as general elections voting in civilian Prime Ministers (politically subordinate to the President). Despite this, the
Pakistan Army maintained a monopoly over the power structure in both cases, with the country's four
Subdivisions of Pakistan entirely coming under the dictatorial military rule of senior generals in the President's cabinet, such as General Rahimuddin Khan's authoritarian and unprecedentedly long rule over
Balochistan (Pakistan), the country's largest province.
In the past, military juntas have justified their rule as a way of bringing political stability for the nation or rescuing it from the threat of "dangerous ideology". In Latin America the threat of communism was often used, while in the Middle East the desire to oppose Israel and later Islamic fundamentalism proved an important motivating pattern. Military regimes tend to portray themselves as non-partisan, as a "neutral" party that can provide interim leadership in times of turmoil, and also tend to portray civilian politicians as corrupt and ineffective. One of the almost universal characteristics of a military government is the institution of martial law or a permanent
state of emergency.
Although there are exceptions, military regimes usually have little respect for human rights and use whatever means necessary to silence political opponents. A military regime is also rarely willing to leave power unless forced to by popular revolt, whether active or imminent.
Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East have been common areas for military dictatorships. One of the reasons for this is the fact that the military often has more cohesion and
institutional structure than most of the civilian institutions of society.
Military dictatorships can be contrasted with other forms of dictatorship. For example, in most current and historical Communist states, the center of power rests among civilian party officials, and very careful measures (such as
political commissars and frequent rotations) are taken to prevent the military from exercising independent authority.
Since the 1990s, military dictatorships have become less common. Reasons for this include the fact that military dictatorships no longer have much international legitimacy, as well as the fact that many militaries having unsuccessfully ruled many nations are now inclined not to become involved in political disputes. Furthermore, the end of the
Cold War and the collapse of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics made it more difficult for military regimes to use the threat of
communism as justification for their actions, or to gain support from foreign sources.
As the Cold War began to wind down, in the Middle East, regimes such as those of
Syria and
Egypt that were once clearly military dictatorships have switched to other forms of despotism.
Cases
The following lists are probably incomplete, especially before World War II.
Nations currently under military rule
Nations with a legacy of military dictatorship(s)
In Africa
- Algeria (1965-1994)
- Burkina Faso (1966-1991)
- Burundi (1966-1993)
- Central African Republic (1966-1979, 1981-1993)
- Chad (1975-1991)
- Republic of the Congo (1968-1992)
- Democratic Republic of the Congo (1965-2003)
- Egypt (1952-present)
- Equatorial Guinea (1968-1987)
- Ethiopia (1974-1991)
- The Gambia (1994-1996)
- Guinea (1984-1991)
- Ghana (1966-1969, 1972-1979, 1981-1993)
- Liberia (1980-1990)
- Libya (1969-present)
- Madagascar (1972-1993)
- Mauritania (1978-1992, 2005-2007)
- Niger (1974-1989, 1996-1999)
- Nigeria (1966-1979, 1983-1999)
- Rwanda (1973-1994)
- Sierra Leone (1967-1968, 1992-1996, 1997-1998)
- Somalia (1969-1991; then local militia rule)
- Sudan (1958-1964, 1969-1986, 1989-Present)
- Uganda (1971-1986)
In the Americas
- Argentina (1930-1932, 1943-1946, 1955-58, 1962-1963, 1966-1973, 1976-1983)
- Bolivia (1964-1982)
- Brazil (1930–1934, 1937–1945, 1964-1985)
- Chile (1973-1990)
- Colombia (1953-1957)
- Cuba (1933-1940, 1952-1959)
- Dominican Republic (1844-1978 with a few exceptions)
- Ecuador (1963-1966, 1972-1979)
- El Salvador (1931-1984)
- Guatemala (1931-1944, 1954-1986)
- Haiti (1957-1990, 1991-1994)
- Honduras (1963-1971, 1972-1982)
- Nicaragua (1936-1979)
- Panama (1968-1989)
- Paraguay (1940-1948, 1949-1989)
- Peru (1948-1956, 1968-1980)
- Suriname (1980-1988)
- Uruguay (1973-1985)
- Venezuela (1908-1935, 1952-1958)
In Asia
- Bangladesh (1975-1990)
- Burma/Myanmar(1962-Present)
- Republic of China (local militia rule 1916-1928; military rule 1928-1949)
- Indonesia (1967-1998)
- Iraq (1958-1968, 1979-2003)
- Japan (1932-1945)
- Pakistan (1958-1971, 1978-1988, 1999-Present)
- South Korea (1961-1979, 1980-1988)
- South Vietnam (1963-1975)
- Taiwan (1949-1975)
- Thailand (1933-1957, 1958-1973, 1976-1988, 1991-1992 2006-Present)
In Europe
- Greece (Greek military junta of 1967-1974)
- Poland (1926-1939, 1981-1983)
- Portugal (1926-1933; civil dictatorship until 1974)
- Romania (1940-1944)
- Spain (1923-1930, 1939-1975)
- Turkey (1960-1961, 1971-1973, 1980-1983)
See also