IR5064 The Military in Politics

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Module description

Military forces are called upon to defend against armed aggression, both foreign and domestic. Yet militaries can also disobey civilian leaders, allow governments to fall, and even overthrow the political order themselves. The loyalty and effectiveness of security forces are thus vital to government security and stability. This module introduces students to the study of civil-military relations, beginning from the perspective of the armed forces and when they directly intervene in politics, examining the techniques, causes, and means for preventing coups d'?tat as well as the consequences of coup-proofing for other dimensions of military effectiveness. We then analyze how armed forces impact states? domestic politics, including their behaviour during uprisings and their affect on democratic governance. Finally, we examine different theories of how civilian leaders should manage armed forces and assess the acute challenges that leaders face as they respond to international crises.