COLL: CIVIL-MILITARY RELATIONS

This colloquium is concerned with selected problems and puzzles of civil-military relations, a thriving sub-field of political science. What is the proper relationship between the state, the soldier and society in a modern state? Why do armed soldiers obey unarmed civilian leaders? How does military professionalism shape military effectiveness? Why are some countries prone to coups? How do new democracies exert control over authoritarian militaries? How do colonial legacies shape military recruitment and composition? What explains military repression and defection during mass protests? We will examine these questions in different countries and regions across varied political contexts—from consolidated democratic regimes to transitional democracies and authoritarian regimes— such as the U.S., China, Latin America, the Middle East and South Asia.