Geopolítica, desarrollo y dependencia en la transición hegemónica: ¿cuándo pensamos la defensa en América Latina?

Abstract

This article examines the marginal role of defense in contemporary Latin American political and academic thought within the context of the global hegemonic transition. From a perspective that integrates critical geopolitics, Latin American thought, and dependency theories, it argues that this marginalization cannot be explained solely by the legacy of democratic transitions or by approaches focused on civilian control of the armed forces, but rather stems from a historically produced form of peripheral insertion that shapes material capacities and epistemological frameworks for strategically conceiving autonomy. The study critically 
reviews dominant approaches to civil-military relations and so-called “new militarism,” re-inscribing defense within Latin American debates on development, the national question, and sovereignty. It also analyzes the contemporary hegemonic transition, hybrid forms of conflict, and the contest over strategic resources, critical infrastructure, and technological capabilities. Using examples such as Venezuela, Cuba, and Argentina (Malvinas), the authors argue that defense constitutes a structural dimension of development and autonomy. They conclude that the lack of an independent strategic vision contributes to perpetuating conditions 
of dependency in the cUrrent global geopolitical landscape.