“Towards a military reform in Mexico”

Marcos Pablo Moloeznik University of Guadalajara

Agenda •  Legitimate monopoly of force •  Theoretical and Analytical

framework •  Troops under arms •  Radiography of naval power •  Mass desertion as critical issue •  Social believes •  Towards a military reform in Mexico

Legitimate monopoly of force

Security Categories Coercive Instruments National Security Armed Forces Internal Security Security Forces Public Security Police Forces

Theoretical and Analytical Framework -  Military Factor: component of national power - Hard power: high intensity use of force (ultima ratio) – military profession: war - Karl von Clausewitz, ON WAR book VII. - Strategy in the way of direct action (Andre Beaufre) - Symbol of national sovereignty (1648, Westfalia / UN Charter Article 51) vs. Loss of state monopoly on war (military private security companies)

Civil – military relations

•  Confusion political and technical dimensions

•  Two secretariats office •  Headlines in military activity •  Excessive bureaucratization •  Militarization of public security •  Autonomy of military power •  Uniformed: architects of their own

destiny

High prerogatives of the armed forces in institution (Alfred Stepan)

•  Expanding its role in the maintenance of law and

internal order •  The coordination of the defense system •  The exercise of control in the defense sector in the

hands of the uniformed themselves •  The monopoly of sectoral planning •  Autonomy in managing their resources and the

exercise of military spending •  Participation in the National Security Council •  Participation in the National Public Security Council •  The absence of a legislative tradition on defense •  Discretion in the promotion of senior officers

Missions of the Armed Forces

-  Conventional or traditional (CAI - NIAC, IHL / LOAC, ICRC)

-  Unconventional (New Threats) -  Alliances / Blocks or international

commitments (NATO / UN) -  Contributing to national development -  Support public safety

Military Personnel 1994 – 2006 Year SEDENA SEMAR Total

1994 168 773 48 170 216 943

1995 171 952 53 128 225 080

1996 179 038 53 128 232 166

1997 182 328 54 247 236 575

1998 182 328 53 566 235 894

1999 183 296 53 729 237 025

2000 182 329 55 223 237 552

2001 185 143 49 165 234 308

2002 188 143 50 026 238 169

2003 191 143 47 304 238 447

2004 191 143 47 316 238 459

2005 191 143 46 280 237 423

2006 191 143 45 770 236 913

Troops of the Mexican Armed Forces Year Total SEDENA SEMAR

2000 237 552 182 329 55 228

2001 234 308 185 143 49 165

2002 238 169 188 143 50 026

2003 238 447 191 143 47 304

2004 238 459 191 143 47 316

2005 238 787 191 143 47 644

2006 244 238 196 767 47 471

2007 246 742 196 710 50 032

2008 254 035 202 355 51 680

2009 258 992 206 013 52 979

2010 259 237 206013 53 224

2011 259 630 206 013 53 617

2012 263 930 209 716 54 214

Radiography of naval power in Latin America- Selected countries

Countries Population Personnel Destroyers Frigates LP (*) Submarines

Argentina 42 192 494 20 000 (1) 5 6 17 3

Brasil 199 321 413 59 000 (2) 3 11 44 5

Colombia 45 239 079 46,150 (3) - 4 56 4

Chile 17 067 369 16,300 (4) 1 7 13 4

Ecuador 15 223 680 7 300 (5) - 2 9 2

México 114 975 406 58 500 (6) - 7 124 -

Perú 29 549 517 24 000 (7) 1 8 14 6

Venezuela 28 047 938 17 500 (9) - 6 48 2

Missions and functions

[...] is difficult to imagine the Mexican Army as a force of conventional combat[...] in practice have served as a sort of national guard... (quote, “national constabulary”)

Source: Jane’s Sentinel Security Assessment. 2005. México; 3.

NUMBER OF ACTIVE GENERALS

•  Major Generals: 32 •  Brigadier General: 196 •  General : 295

TOTAL: 523

Bureaucracy = Mexican Army (Holanda - Alemania)

Jane’s Sentinel Country Risk Assessments, Surrey, Britain: Jane’s Information Group Limited 2009,

Mexico, p. 1.

The Mexican Navy is an efficient coastal

patrol force, with modest roles, but aspires to

be more than a Coast Guard, for which it is

investing significantly in equipment.

Cargo o jerarquía Percepciones brutas Percepciones netas (pesos)

Secretary $228,599.10 $154,976.56

Undersecretary $211,734.95 $143,677.60

Officials $203,600.00 $138,365.06

Major Generals $196,474.00 $133,590.64

Brigadier General $152,700.00 $104,408.00

General $113,608.80 $78,368.44

Coronel $85,512.00 $60,129.71

Lieutenants Coronels $50,900.00 $36,816.11

Mayors $37,666.00 $28,072.31

Captain 1° $31,558.00 $24,794.57

Captain 2° $28,504.00 $22,939.11

Lieutenant $7,701.00 $7,130.33

Under lieutenants $7,096.38 $6,620.66

Sergeant 1° $5,533.88 $5,219.26

Sergeant 2° $5,262.65 $4,974.77

Sergeant $4,416.98 $4,207.76

Soldier $4,053.38 $3,865.25

Desertions during the administration of Vicente Fox, 2000-2006

Rank Number of deserters

Coronel 1

Lieutenants Coronels 9

Mayors 38

Captains 1/os. 50

Captains 2/os. 49

Lieutenants 459

Under lieutenants 782

Sergeant 1/os. 354

Sergeant 2/os. 2,239

Sergeant 9,919

Soldiers 109,318

Total 123,218

Sixth Governance Report

From 1 December 2006 to 30 June 2012 a total of 43,827 cases of desertion which represents a decrease of 59.1% compared to 107,158 cases filed in the 2000-2006 administration accumulated.

In SEMAR, September 2011 to June 2012, cause loss by unreasonably miss three days 384 naval elements, 16.2% less compared to 458 in the same period occurred the previous time. Also, from January 2007 to June 2012 there were 4,660 casualties for the same reason, 53.5% less compared to 10,027 in the same period of the past six years<...>

Evolution of the army's image

Tell me if you have a very good / good review of the Army (%)

2004 2005 2007

60 72 69

Towards a military reform in Mexico

•  Redefining roles and functions of the Armed Forces

•  The merge of the defense system in a single secretariat office

•  Bureaucratization and more civils •  The centralization of C4I command, control,

communications, computer and intelligence systems (JCS)

•  Empower Mexico Navy (bioceanic) •  Integrating the Armed Forces in the discussion