Political Armies

Political Armies

Does the withdrawal of armies from direct rule in most countries herald an end to their role as actors in domestic politics? Has political intervention by the military been superseded? This comparative examination of the politicized armed forces looks at * the consequences of military rule for nation building and economic development * the effects of the passing of the Cold War and the rise of globalization on the political role of the military * the role of political armies in the consolidation of civil politics and democratic governance * the lessons for policy makers in global governance and post-conflict reconstruction The contributors build on successive theories about the role of the military in politics and look to the future. The most threatening scenario may be a proliferation of armed actors and the rise of privatized forces of law and order.

The Life and Times of Niccolò Machiavelli

Civil-military Relations in Sierra Leone

In this carefully researched study Coy reexamines the notion of the military as an effective contributor to the process of political modernization in developing countries. Testing theories of civil-military relations against descriptions and analyses of events in Sierra Leone the author offers explanations that are original and that make this book a model micro-study.