Tinted Blue: Air Force Culture and American Civil-Military Relations

Abstract

If war is an extension of politics by other means,1 then civil-military dialogue is the birthplace of that extension. The logical continuity of politics and war requires a functional continuity of effective civil-military exchange. This effectiveness hinges both on normative democratic ideals as well as a deep appreciation of the other's material interests. To improve the clarity of civil-military dialogue, this article explores the cultural roots of military self-interest. While civil-military relations in the United States are generally healthy, military and civilian policymakers do not always agree on the proper means to secure their common ends. Even the best of civil-military relationships must endure a messy hybrid of cooperation and resistance between principal stakeholders. A military that believes in and submits to civilian control is still a military that harbors its own interests.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 2010
Accession Number
ADA533949

Entities

People

  • Jeff Donnithorne

Organizations

  • Air University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Autonomy
  • Biomedical
  • C4I
  • Human Systems
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aerial Warfare
  • Air Force
  • Air Power
  • Air Superiority Fighters
  • Aircraft Equipment
  • Aircrafts
  • Airframes
  • Bombing
  • Case Studies
  • Civil Engineering
  • Fighter Aircraft
  • Guided Bombs
  • Military Organizations
  • National Security
  • United States
  • United States Central Command
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Joint Military Operations and Doctrine.
  • Military History of the United States in the 20th Century.
  • Theoretical Analysis.