Militarization of politics or politicization of the armed forces? New Hispanic and Mexican Military Posts, 1810-1822

Abstract

The military officials who campaigned against the patriotic insurgency in New Spain during the 1810s gained significant administrative and political experience to mobilize local resources for their cause. This virtually autonomous governance experience enabled the first royal officials to easily move towards national politics after Independence. The military and political career of Agustin Iturbide is an example of this transformation which shows that there was no militarization of society or politics after Independence. The military officials who moved to the political sphere did so as politicians, not as army men.