Until the early 1970s Uruguay held a worldwide reputation as a democratic island in Latin AmerÂica, maintaining a collective execÂutive system that acquired for it the nickname of the "Switzerland of South America." The constituÂtional tradition was emphasized by a nonpersonalist and non-authoritarian executive, political stability, a high standard of living, and an advanced educational and cultural level.
The military has shattered this established tradition. Over a two-year period its growing involveÂment in politics ended with absoÂlute control over the executive.
The aim of this work is to anaÂlyze this transformation and conÂsider the major variables that have affected political developments in Uruguay. Internal factors are the respective influences wielded by the United States plus Uruguay's two most powerful neighbors, ArÂgentina and Brazil, as well as politÂical trends in the Latin American subsystem. Among the external inÂfluences are competing elites (the traditional political parties and the left-wing front), interest groups (universities, trade unions, the church, dominant economic secÂtors, and the mass media), and the urban guerrilla movement (the Tupamaros).Kaufman analyzes these factors within the context of the UruguayÂan economic and political strucÂture, and shows their significance through their effects on the perÂception of the military elite.
In addition, he attempts to deÂtermine whether the army's deciÂsion to assume absolute power was strategic or a cumulative result of tactical decisions. Finally, he utilizes the accumulated data to test various hypotheses related to military intervention as an indeÂpendent variable.