THE PROCESSES, STRUCTURES AND ACTORS IN THE DEMOCRATIC CONTROL OF THE MILITARY IN NEW DEMOCRACIES
Keywords:
Civil-Military Relations, Democratic Control, Military, New Democracies
Abstract
This article identifies and interrogates the conceptual issues surrounding the philosophy of democratic control of the military in new democracies from a liberal-pluralist perspective. Such control aims at curbing the military’s power and aligning it with civilian-crafted defence policies. It is observed that the dominant paradigm neglects the role of societal and external forces in the process of democratic control. Prominence is largely given to governmental institutions notably, the executive, legislature, and to some extent, the civil society. The article employs the comparative, historical, institutional, and structural tools of reconceptualising the theory and practice of civilian control of the military in new democracies. It is argued that democratic control of the military is a multifaceted process involving many actors. These cover legitimated state organs including military leaders, societal or domestic non-governmental forces, and international actors. They exercise respective functions in institutionalising democratic control. The article notes that the trajectory of the democratic control of the military in Africa, Asia, and Latin America depends on inconsistencies in Western influences on the domestic political environments of such states.
Published
2024-01-10
How to Cite
Tafida, M., Dunmoye, R., & Nasidi, N. (2024). THE PROCESSES, STRUCTURES AND ACTORS IN THE DEMOCRATIC CONTROL OF THE MILITARY IN NEW DEMOCRACIES. ZANGO: Zambian Journal of Contemporary Issues, 37(2), 1-19. Retrieved from https://engineering.unza.zm/index.php/ZJOCI/article/view/1142
Section
Articles