Turning From Tradition: Moving Civil-Military Relations Forward in the 21st Century
Abstract
How can the military, those trained and equipped in the management and execution of force, remain obedient to a diverse civilian government that may be at odds with its best interests and ignore the advice it provides? In his book, The Soldier and the State, Samuel Huntington develops the theory of objective control to ensure civil control of the military. This theory draws a clear line delineating the responsibilities of the politician and military member, and it promotes an autonomous military to garner obedience. This theory of civil-military relations developed for survival during the Cold War, remains in practice by today's civil and military leaders. Objective control has proven an outdated mode of civil-military interaction in light of how much the United States' position in the world has changed since the theory was created in 1957. To meet the challenges of a more complicated security environment, civilian and military leaders must stop practicing objective control and adopt the rebargaining theory developed Mackubin Owens to encourage civil-military cooperation and embrace the military's influence on national policy and strategy development.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 07, 2018
- Accession Number
- AD1176940
Entities
People
- Nicholas G. Cullura
Organizations
- Marine Corps University