<![CDATA[The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the limitations of crisis governance in countries in the Global South, particularly regarding health capacity, the effectiveness of civilian institutions, and national preparedness. Under these conditions, the military has once again become a prominent actor in crisis management, demonstrating a significant shift in civil-military relations. This study aims to analyze patterns of military involvement in the COVID-19 response by conducting a comparative study between Southeast Asia and Latin America, two regions with a history of military intervention and diverse political characteristics. The research method used is qualitative-descriptive with a document analysis approach, encompassing policy reports, academic articles, international institutional data, and research publications on civil-military dynamics during the pandemic. Through this comparative approach, the study identifies three main patterns of military involvement: limited technical support, balanced civil-military collaboration, and a fully military-led response. The results show that countries such as Vietnam tend to implement relatively effective coordinated collaboration, while Brazil, Peru, and the Philippines exhibit a strong tendency towards militarization of public policy. These findings confirm that while military involvement increases short-term effectiveness in logistics, mobility control, and healthcare provision, it carries long-term risks of increasing state dependence on military institutions. This research emphasizes the need for strengthened civilian capacity, clearer boundaries for the military's role, and accountability mechanisms as part of a whole-of-government approach to maintain a balance of power in future crisis governance.]]>
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