Introduction
The book Military Rule in America is a historic book written by Karen L. Remmer. It talks about the type of government that was present in Southern America, in the 20th Century. The author aimed to pass a message to leaders who believe in a dictatorial type of leadership and make them change their governing ways. It further explains how leadership was dictatorial and how this leadership affected South Americans.
Why the author write this book
Karen L. Remmer wrote this book to highlight the way Latinos were subjected to an authoritarian government. This type of government was one-sided; it benefits the ones in power but seemed to frustrate the typical citizens implying the presence of dictatorial leadership concepts. Additionally, the book talks about the military rule in Latin America. The author is trying to pass information to leaders concerning the militants’ dictatorial rule, as evident in the way this type of government hinders development. She clearly shows the negative sides of a dictatorial government. She lets people know how awful leaders devastate innocent people. Some leaders take advantage of the power they have to destroy homes. In addition, she explains that people need to know their rights, and they should not let leaders take advantage of their background to use them as weapons in their dirty schemes (Bouvier, 2002). This book is of relevance to all states or countries that are governed by a similar law. The author covers the whole situation of bad governance. It is quite handy to states that are streamlined and have been subjected formerly to indecisive leaders.
The author stresses on dictatorial type of government bringing out the actuality that certain states are still under this rule. She is letting people know that they can make a difference by speaking out their beliefs, as well as, voting for their preferred leaders. The author’s intended audience is the leader who is taking advantage of people, and the average person living in poverty and distress, because of the corrupt leaders they have. For the leaders, it is a way of making them considerate concerning the people that they lead. The people need to know that despite who they are they need to speak up and make a change, instead of feeling hopeless. The book shows that people can choose the kind of leadership they want. The Latinos suffered because they did not know they could make a difference in terms of leadership. The author is trying to make everyone not only the Latinos know the significance of personal contribution in terms of ideas, concerning any successful leadership.
Dictatorial leadership in Latin America
The dictatorship type of leadership is the leadership where leaders use force to get things done and to implement changes. Following this system, what an individual thinks or has to say is not of importance. The leaders in Latin America used extreme force to get things done, this was their only way of maintaining the power they had. They used the power they had to force innocent boys to join military forces. This power was also used to implement laws that ended up being advantageous to them. Many of them lost their lives in the battle by forcing young, unskilled boys into war. The young Latinos started using arms at an early age. This gave rise to the destructive Latinos because, at an early age, they could get arms from Vietnam. After all, the militants made this possible. This governing system affected quite a number of the youths especially the young Latino boys. In Argentina, the militants used the power they had on state institutes, to enact fundamental reordering of the society. Dictatorship negatively affected Southern America; it was a big blow to democracy, freedom and reform. This slowed down development in Latin America. The militants had so much interest in making things work for them that they did not notice how pathetic they governed the people.
Latin Americans were exposed to poverty, death and endless suffering. The book shows how a dictatorship government exposes people to negative results. A country cannot develop when leadership is one-sided. People need to be part of their government, by giving their thoughts and letting their leaders know when they are not impressed. This type of government also affects the economy of a state. When people are not at peace with their leaders, it is unlikely that they will support the government thus slowing down economic growth. The issue of dictatorship leadership affects several states and countries. This ends up affecting an individual because the common people make a state, and when a state fails in terms of performance it will weigh down to the citizens of this state.
Many leaders who practice this stereotypical leadership never take advice from the public. Publishing of this book makes such leaders re-think their purposes, as leaders. Karen L. Remmer, the author of this book directs innovative Markets and Democracy in Latin America. This explains why she is well informed, concerning the political nature in Latin America, in the 20th century, and the military government that was present. The author witnessed the type of leadership in South America and used this book to pass information to other leaders and most likely, South American leaders. She witnessed how Latin Americans were suffering because of a dictatorial government. This book clearly shows the brutality of the militants, and this is evident in the manner in which they deceived people, gained their trust and took advantage of them. The militants did not consider children or women in any aspect of their existence. They thought by doing this they would maintain the power they had. This leadership made them powerful than previous ones and made it easier for them to get things done.
Conclusion
A book is a reliable tool in fighting dictatorial leadership. The author clearly shows how this kind of leadership affects people negatively. She also explains how innocent children are the ones who pay for the paths that the grownups have taken. Children are physically abused if not emotionally. They go to wars start using arms at an early age. People were forced to fight for their states and since they did not volunteer these people die a painful death. The economy becomes stagnant if its depreciation never transpires. The book points out that a democratic government is better than a dictatorship. In a democracy, people live freely, and everyone is at peace. In dictatorial leadership, people constantly watch their backs; they cannot subsist in harmony with rest because they cannot trust their neighbours. Leaders who practise this leadership need to understand that making people fear them does not mean that these people will respect them. The author is letting people know that they are not in the 20th century, and if they are not ready to change the type of leadership they have, no one will change this for anyone. People need to take control this should be done by the members of a state.
References
Bouvier, V. M. (2002). The globalization of U.S.-Latin American relations: Democracy, intervention, and human rights. Westport, Conn: Praeger.