INTELLIGENCE ACTIVITY IN LATIN AMERICA: CHARACTERISTICS, STRENGTHS, WEAKNESSES, AND FUTURE PROSPECTS

Abstract

Intelligence activity in Latin America has had an interesting evolution in recent years. Emerged or developed in most countries of the region during the Cold War, their characteristics were influenced by the existing concepts of defense and security in Latin America at that time. The restoration of democracy in the region began a process of institutionalization through the enactment of laws that, in many cases, established controls and even limits, and also sought to provide new objectives for the activity. However, in most cases, persist the extent and concentration of powers, ineffectiveness in controls, and the use of the activity in everyday politics, as well as an overlapping and confusion between the activities of intelligence and public security.