School of the Americas

Definition

The School of the Americas (SOA) was a U.S. military training facility established in 1946, primarily aimed at training Latin American military personnel in counter-insurgency tactics and other military skills. It became infamous for training soldiers who later participated in human rights abuses and political repression in their home countries, reflecting U.S. interests in maintaining stability and combating leftist movements in Latin America during the Cold War era.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The SOA was originally located at Fort Gulick in Panama before being relocated to Fort Benning, Georgia, in 1984 due to political pressure.
2. Throughout its existence, the School of the Americas trained over 60,000 military personnel from various Latin American countries, many of whom were involved in significant human rights violations.
3. Critics argue that the SOA contributed to the rise of military dictatorships in Latin America during the Cold War, as trained soldiers often used their skills against their own citizens.
4. In response to growing criticism, especially following revelations about abuses by SOA graduates, the facility was renamed the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation in 2001.
5. The legacy of the SOA continues to spark debate over U.S. foreign policy in Latin America and its role in shaping regional military practices and human rights records.

Review Questions

• How did the School of the Americas reflect U.S. foreign policy goals during the Cold War?
  • The School of the Americas was a key element of U.S. foreign policy during the Cold War, focusing on training Latin American military personnel to combat leftist movements and maintain political stability. By equipping soldiers with counter-insurgency skills, the U.S. aimed to prevent the spread of communism across the region. This alignment with anti-communist objectives often led to support for authoritarian regimes that used these tactics against their own populations.
• Discuss the criticisms surrounding the training provided by the School of the Americas and its implications on human rights in Latin America.
  • The training provided by the School of the Americas faced severe criticism for its link to human rights violations perpetrated by graduates in their home countries. Many soldiers trained at SOA were involved in repressive actions against political dissidents, contributing to a culture of fear and violence. This relationship raises important questions about accountability and complicity in human rights abuses associated with U.S. military assistance programs.
• Evaluate the long-term effects of the School of the Americas on U.S.-Latin American relations and regional stability.
  • The long-term effects of the School of the Americas on U.S.-Latin American relations have been profound and complex. While initially intended as a means to foster security cooperation, its legacy has been marred by associations with human rights abuses and military dictatorships. This has led to deep-seated mistrust towards U.S. intentions within many Latin American nations, complicating diplomatic relations and affecting regional stability as countries grapple with their historical context and seek to build more democratic governance structures.

Related terms

Counter-insurgency: Military or political strategies aimed at defeating insurgency movements that seek to overthrow or undermine established governments.

Alliance for Progress: A U.S. initiative launched in 1961 aimed at fostering economic development and social reform in Latin America to counter the spread of communism.

Human Rights Violations: Acts that infringe upon the basic rights and freedoms to which all humans are entitled, often committed by state authorities against civilians.