The Importance of Civil-Military Relations and the Future of the United States as a World Superpower

Abstract

The relationship between the United States' public and its powerful military may ultimately determine the outcome of the Global War on Terror. A separation between the military and the democratically elected governing public has always existed; however, in the last half century the civil-military divide has grown to an alarming level. This disparity has undermined the nation's foreign policy, has placed its civilian leadership at a disadvantage in negotiations, and has weakened the influence the U.S. military has in safeguarding the country's interests at home and abroad. To maintain America's influence as a world power, the United States must improve civil-military relations by increasing the public's knowledge of military history and its armed forces, reconnecting communities with the military, and emphasizing the importance of civil-interaction with service members.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 20, 2009
Accession Number
ADA511265

Entities

People

  • B. J. Gorman

Organizations

  • Marine Corps University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Education
  • Foreign Policy
  • Governments
  • International Organizations
  • Military Education
  • Military History
  • Military Science
  • Military Tactics
  • Military Training
  • Militia
  • National Security
  • Political Science
  • Security
  • Students
  • Training
  • United States
  • War Colleges

Fields of Study

  • Political science

Readers

  • Political Violence and Terrorism Studies.
  • Strategic Security Studies