Civil-Military Relations

Course Number: 84-319

Why do militaries (people with guns) ever obey civilians (people without guns)? When, why, and how do militaries achieve autonomy, battlefield effectiveness, or political rule? Students will confront such questions by surveying theories and cases of civil-military relations. The first half of the course surveys the theoretical and empirical literature on selected problems in civil-military relations, particularly the causes of military loyalty to civilian rule and civilian support for the military, colonial legacies in civil-military relations, difference in civilian and military mindsets/cultures, the relationship between civil-military relations and battlefield effectiveness, military repression and defection during civilian protests, and the determinants and outcomes of military coups. In the second half of the course, the class will survey civil-military relations in selected regions and countries (including the United States, Russia, and China). By the end, students will write an original case study explaining civil-military relations in a particular state.

Academic Year: 2022-2023
Semester(s): Spring
Required/Elective: Elective
Units: 9
Location(s): Pittsburgh