National Leaders with limited experience in military matters often have little choice but to rely on the advice of professional military commanders trained in the art and science of warfare to inform the limits of policy; in such cases, the military establishment may enter the bureaucratic arena to advocate for or against a particular course of action, shaping the policy-making process and blurring any clear cut lines of civilian control. Cincotta, Henry. If the trend toward increasing friction and hostility in civil-military relations during the last three [administrations]–those of Johnson, Carter, and Clinton–continues into the future, the national security of the United States will not be well served (Kohn). [2] For instance, in the Empire of Japan, prime ministers and almost everyone in high positions were military people like Hideki Tojo, and advocated and basically pressured the leaders to start military conflicts against China and others because they believed that they would ultimately be victorious. Thus, all three branches of government must have some control over the military, and the system of checks and balances maintained among the other branches would serve to help control the military. In fact, civilian control is logically possible in autocratic regimes as demonstrated, for instance, historically by the Soviet Union or today's Singapore. The president oversees many matters of national policy therefore the Secretary of Defense has an essential responsibility in the oversight of military actions. Three examples include Abraham Lincoln's dismissal of George McClellan in the American Civil War when McClellan failed to pursue the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia following the Battle of Antietam, Harry S. Truman relieving Douglas MacArthur of command in the Korean War after MacArthur repeatedly contradicted the Truman administration's stated policies on the war's conduct, and Barack Obama's acceptance of Stanley McChrystal's resignation in the War in Afghanistan after a Rolling Stone article was published where he mocked several members of the Obama administration, including Vice President Joe Biden. Austin, 67, was the head of U.S. Central Command from 2013 to 2016 under President Barack Obama, replacing Mattis in that key military role overseeing troops in a region including Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Syria and Saudi Arabia. A state's effective use of force is an issue of great concern for all national leaders, who must rely on the military to supply this aspect of their authority. McCrystal noted in his first meeting with the president that President Obama seemed disengaged and uninformed. ... An example is the National Command Authority where the civilian presence and expertise is far less visible than the military component. ” America – Engaging the World – America. One author, paraphrasing Samuel P. Huntington's writings in The Soldier and the State, has summarized the civilian control ideal as "the proper subordination of a competent, professional military to the ends of policy as determined by civilian authority".[3]. Ambiguity over when the President could take military action without declaring war resulted in the War Powers Resolution of 1973. The establishment of a civilian head of state, head of government or other government figure as the military's commander-in-chief within the chain of command is one legal construct for the propagation of civilian control. 13 Aug. 2011. . Among the Romans it was a standing maxim to excite a war, whenever a revolt was apprehended. Inasmuch as the U. S. ilitary is highly esteemed, it should be understood that ultimate military authority rests in the civilian chain of command. “U. A lack of control over the military may result in a state within a state. ” Index Page – The U. S. Constitution Online – USConstitution. N. p. , n. d. Web. In a 1929 essay On Correcting Mistaken Ideas in the Party, Mao explicitly refuted "comrades [who] regard military affairs and politics as opposed to each other and [who] refuse to recognize that military affairs are only one means of accomplishing political tasks", prescribing increased scrutiny of the People's Liberation Army by the Party and greater political training of officers and enlistees as a means of reducing military autonomy. In Federalist No. In the first place, the phrase “civilian control of the military” is inaccurate and misleading. Later in the year, immediately after the November elections in which the Democrats gained control of the Congress, Rumsfeld resigned. [4] Also, military personnel, because of the nature of their job, are much more willing to use force to settle disputes than civilians because they are trained military personnel that specialize strictly in warfare. calls “objective control” of the military by its civilian superiors. Com – Daily News, Polls, Public Opinion on Government, Politics, Economics, Management . Sorry, but copying text is forbidden on this website. The danger of granting military leaders full autonomy or sovereignty is that they may ignore or supplant the democratic decision-making process, and use physical force, or the threat of physical force, to achieve their preferred outcomes; in the worst cases, this may lead to a coup or military dictatorship. 12 Aug. 2011. . The means of defense against foreign danger, have been always the instruments of tyranny at home. 12 Aug. 2011. . Civilian control of the military is a doctrine in military and political science that places ultimate responsibility for a country's strategic decision-making in the hands of the civilian political leadership, rather than professional military officers.The reverse situation, where professional military officers control national politics, is called a military dictatorship. The reverse situation, where professional military officers control national politics, is called a military dictatorship. Given that broad strategic decisions, such as the decision to declare a war, start an invasion, or end a conflict, have a major impact on the citizens of the country, they are seen by civilian control advoc… Use of the term in scholarly analyses tends to take place in the context of a democracy governed by elected officials, though the subordination of the military to political control is not unique to these societies. "The Civil-Military Problematique: Huntington, Janowitz and the Question of Civilian Control. But it was urged, that it would be dangerous to let him command in person, without any restraint, as he might make a bad use of it. ” Stop the F-35. Many of the Founding Fathers of the United States were suspicious of standing militaries. General McCrystal, a legendary leader in combat, deserved some sort of punishment. Hunter, Robert E. “Civilian control of the military in democracies” Ambassador and Permanent Representative on the North Atlantic Council – Transcript” US Department of State Dispatch | N. p. , n. d. Web. President-elect Joe Biden's selection of a recently retired general to run the Pentagon further threatens the principle of civilian control of the military, many in the defense community say. For example, the United States Marine Corps (through probably the best lobbying of any of the services) is required by law to be two divisions (at least) in … The president of the United States is in essence the CEO of the country. Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution states that Congress shall have the power “to raise and support Armies …” and “to provide and maintain a Navy. McCrystal’s statements in the article were not flattering of the president to say the least; his comments were viewed as offensive and belittling to President Obama, Vice-President Biden, as well as the U. S. Ambassador to Afghanistan. The military must understand its role in a democracy. Conflicting Indicators of “Crisis” in American Civil-Military Relations. While civilian control forms the normative standard in almost every society outside of military dictatorships, its practice has often been the subject of pointed criticism from both uniformed and non-uniformed observers, who object to what they view as the undue "politicization" of military affairs, especially when elected officials or political appointees micromanage the military, rather than giving the military general goals and objectives (like "Defeat Country X"), and letting the military decide how best to carry those orders out. According to Professor Richard Kohn from the University of North Carolina, who is one of, if not the leading, American military historians on the issue of civil-military relations, “Military officers who feel contempt for their elected or appointed supervisors, or the voters who placed them in office, are unlikely to advise them wisely or carry out their policies effectively…. In his principal argument for the ratification of the proposed constitution, he argued that only by maintaining a strong union could the new country avoid such a pitfall. Mao Zedong stated that "Our principle is that the Party commands the gun, and the gun must never be allowed to command the Party," reflecting the primacy of the Communist Party of China (and communist parties in general) as decision-makers in Marxist–Leninist and Maoist theories of democratic centralism.[1]. Military leaders advise our civilian leaders, however it is the decisions of our civilian leaders that are carried out by the military. ” Hence, the civilian chain of command has ultimate military authority. In 1833, Joseph L. Story, the Chief Justice of the United States of America, wrote a commentary on the Constitution of the United States. He foresaw the necessity of creating a civilian government that kept the military at a distance. [5] Even more forceful are the words of Elbridge Gerry, a delegate to the American Constitutional Convention, who wrote that "[s]tanding armies in time of peace are inconsistent with the principles of republican Governments, dangerous to the liberties of a free people, and generally converted into destructive engines for establishing despotism."[5]. An example of one such set of conditions is the "Weinberger Doctrine", which sought to forestall another American intervention like that which occurred in the Vietnam War (which had proved disastrous for the morale and fighting integrity of the U.S. military) by proposing that the nation should only go to war in matters of "vital national interest", "as a last resort", and, as updated by Weinberger's disciple Colin Powell, with "overwhelming force". Civilian control is often seen as a prerequisite feature of a stable liberal democracy. ” Law and Legal Research a€” Lawyers, Legal Websites, Legal News and Legal Resources. N. p. , n. d. Web. Jones, Jeffrey M.. ” Americans Most Confident in Military, Least in Congress . When they wrote the Constitution they divided the responsibilities for the military, strongly placing the responsibilities in civilian hands. Strong democratic control of the military is a prerequisite for membership in NATO. net. Yet civil-military relations have come under increased stress since World War II and the Cold War, according to Kohn. Civilian control of the military is a doctrine in military and political science that places ultimate responsibility for a country's strategic decision-making in the hands of the civilian political leadership, rather than professional military officers. "Domestic Use of the Armed Forces to Maintain Law and Order – posse comitatus Pitfalls at the Inauguration of the 44th President", This page was last edited on 21 December 2020, at 15:33. ” Find Articles at BNET | N. p. , n. d. Web. Hamilton argued in Federalist No. If you need this or any other sample, we can send it to you via email. James Madison, another writer of many of The Federalist papers,[6] expressed his concern about a standing military in comments before the Constitutional Convention in June 1787: In time of actual war, great discretionary powers are constantly given to the Executive Magistrate. “U. James Madison, in Federalist No. The remoteness of government from the action allowed professional soldiers to claim military affairs as their own particular sphere of expertise and influence; upon entering a state of war, it was often expected that the generals and field marshals would dictate strategy and tactics, and the civilian leadership would defer to their informed judgments. ” Gallup. Although no active military officers have spoken out against Rumsfeld, the actions of these officers is still highly unusual. The act's primary purpose is to prevent local law enforcement officials from utilizing federal forces in this way by forming a "posse" consisting of federal Soldiers or Airmen.[9]. The second problem with most training about civilian control is that those who should practice civilian control of the military are not the ones, by and large, receiving the training. In the United States the Hatch Act of 1939 does not directly apply to the military, however, Department of Defense Directive 1344.10 (DoDD 1344.10) essentially applies the same rules to the military. The most recent example occurred last year, 2010. 13 Aug. 2011. Civilian control is a central concept in the study of comparative political institutions and civil-military relations. The courageous “can do” military has won the empathy and hearts of our nation far and wide, especially in light of the recent assassination of the professed mastermind behind the 9/11 World Trade Center terrorist attack, Osama Bin Laden. Lloyd Austin, the retired Army general whom President-elect Joe Biden picked to be secretary of defense, says he reveres the principle of civilian control of the military. The history of civil-military relations has not been without its own setbacks. The U. S. Department of State says, “Democracy is government in which power and civic responsibility are exercised by all citizens, directly or through their freely elected representatives. Civilian leaders cannot usually hope to challenge their militaries by means of force, and thus must guard against any potential usurpation of powers through a combination of policies, laws, and the inculcation of the values of civilian control in their armed services. A standing military force, with an overgrown Executive, will not long be safe companions to liberty. Advocates of civilian control generally take a Clausewitzian view of war, emphasizing its political character. Advocates of civilian control generally take a Clausewitzian view of war, emphasizing its political character. 26 that it would be equally as bad for a legislature to be unfettered by any other agency and that restraints would actually be more likely to preserve liberty. gov. The framers of the U. S. Constitution labored to make sure the military would be under civilian control. Civilian control of the military. The United States military is one of the most important and celebrated institutions our country has. N. p. , n. d. Web. [3] This autonomous professionalism, it is argued, best inculcates an esprit de corps and sense of distinct military corporateness that prevents political interference by sworn servicemen and -women. Civilian control of the military is very essential in order to have a strong and successful form of government. On the other, a weak military establishment also threatens the regime because of the likelihood that the former will fail to protect the latter. Essay, Ask Writer For This poses the paradox that "because we fear others we create an institution of violence to protect us, but then we fear the very institution we created for protection". Most Americans don’t realize how special the civilian-military relationship is and how it has contributed to the country. There are, however, practical political concerns in the United States that make the use of federal military forces less desirable for use in domestic law enforcement. Was McCrystal’s banter, and, no less, in front of a worldly reporter for Rolling Stone Magazine, appropriate? American presidents have used the power to dismiss high-ranking officers as a means to assert policy and strategic control. The process of setting military budgets forms another contentious intersection of military and non-military policy, and regularly draws active lobbying by rival military services for a share of the national budget. But it also plants the seeds of another civil-military relations paradox. If all of the major political decisions were up to the military, many wrong decisions might be made and it … How could the general not be appalled at the president’s conduct? Under a system of objective control, the military is conceded substantial autonomy in the areas just mentioned in return for its respect for and noninterference in the decisionmak-ing of the civilian leadership. Garamone, Jim. Dr. Mackubin Owens is Editor of Orbis, the Foreign Policy Research Institute’s quarterly journal of international affairs, and Senior Fellow at its Program on National Security. In the 20th century the most-repressive nondemocratic regimes, most notably the Nazis in Germany and the Stalinist regime in the Soviet Union, were party dictatorships in which civilian control of the military was well established. The Secretary of Defense answers to the president. Is this really an issue of military insubordination of a general with thirty-four years experience in the military, to a former lawyer turned Commander-in-Chief? Historically they are associated most strongly with the Soviet Union and China rather than liberal democracies. The consent of both houses of Congress ought, therefore, to be required, before he should take the actual command. N. p. , n. d. Web. Similar prohibitions apply to the Navy and Marine Corps by service regulation, since the actual Posse Comitatus Act does not apply to them. However, after an interview with and embedded report, Michael Hastings, a contributing writer for Rolling Stones Magazine, McCrystal ended up resigning his prestigious position. Opponents of gun control have cited the need for a balance of power in order to enforce the civilian control of the military. Kohn, Richard H. “The erosion of civilian control of the military in the United States today – page 16 | Naval War College Review. This is the central paradox of civil-military relations. Get Your Custom Essay on, By clicking “Write my paper”, you agree to our, By clicking Send Me The Sample you agree on the, American Civil-Military Relations: Argumentative, https://graduateway.com/civilian-control-of-the-military/, Get your custom While armed forces were built up during wartime, the pattern after every war up to and including World War II was to demobilize quickly and return to something approaching pre-war force levels. In the United States, Article I of the Constitution gives the Congress the power to declare war (in the War Powers Clause), while Article II of the Constitution establishes the President as the commander-in-chief. In a less egalitarian practice, societies may also blur the line between "civilian" and "military" leadership by making direct appointments of non-professionals (frequently social elites benefitting from patronage or nepotism) to an officer rank. "You must agree to out terms of services and privacy policy", Don't use plagiarized sources. For example, the President has explicit authority under the Constitution and federal law to use federal forces or federalized militias to enforce the laws of the United States. N. p. , n. d. Web. The answer then given was, that though the president might, there was no necessity that he should, take the command in person; and there was no probability that he would do so, except in extraordinary emergencies, and when he was possessed of superior military talents. Conversely, the tradition of the citizen-soldier holds that "civilianizing" the military is the best means of preserving the loyalty of the armed forces towards civilian authorities, by preventing the development of an independent "caste" of warriors that might see itself as existing fundamentally apart from the rest of society. Improvements in information technology and its application to wartime command and control (a process sometimes labeled the "Revolution in Military Affairs") has allowed civilian leaders removed from the theater of conflict to assert greater control over the actions of distant military forces. Throughout all Europe, the armies kept up under the pretext of defending, have enslaved the people. Therefore, it is important to understand the role of the military in democracy. “Democracy in Brief – America. Civilian leadership ensures that our country’s values, institutions, and policies are the free choices of the people rather than the military. Nuclear weapons in the U.S. are controlled by the civilian United States Department of Energy, not by the Department of Defense. 11 Aug. 2011. . In his commentaries he stated: “The propriety of admitting the president to be commander in chief, so far as to give orders, and have a general superintendency, was admitted. N. p. , n. d. 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