Guarding the Guardians

Civil-Military Relations and Democratic Governance in Africa

Nonfiction, Social & Cultural Studies, Political Science
Cover of the book Guarding the Guardians by Mathurin C. Houngnikpo, Taylor and Francis
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Mathurin C. Houngnikpo ISBN: 9781317124290
Publisher: Taylor and Francis Publication: April 22, 2016
Imprint: Routledge Language: English
Author: Mathurin C. Houngnikpo
ISBN: 9781317124290
Publisher: Taylor and Francis
Publication: April 22, 2016
Imprint: Routledge
Language: English

The relationship between civil society and the armed forces is an essential part of any polity, democratic or otherwise, because a military force is after all a universal feature of social systems. Despite significant progress moving towards democracy among some African countries in the past decade, all too many African militaries have yet to accept core democratic principles regulating civilian authority over the military. This book explores the theory of civil-military relations and moves on to review the intrusion of the armed forces in African politics by looking first into the organization and role of the army in pre-colonial and colonial eras, before examining contemporary armies and their impact on society. Furthermore it revisits the various explanations of military takeovers in Africa and disentangles the notion of the military as the modernizing force. Whether as a revolutionary force, as a stabilizing force, or as a modernizing force, the military has often been perceived as the only organized and disciplined group with the necessary skills to uplift newly independent nations. The performance of Africa's military governments since independence, however, has soundly disproven this thesis. As such, this study conveys the necessity of new civil-military relations in Africa and calls not just for civilian control of the military but rather a democratic oversight of the security forces in Africa.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

The relationship between civil society and the armed forces is an essential part of any polity, democratic or otherwise, because a military force is after all a universal feature of social systems. Despite significant progress moving towards democracy among some African countries in the past decade, all too many African militaries have yet to accept core democratic principles regulating civilian authority over the military. This book explores the theory of civil-military relations and moves on to review the intrusion of the armed forces in African politics by looking first into the organization and role of the army in pre-colonial and colonial eras, before examining contemporary armies and their impact on society. Furthermore it revisits the various explanations of military takeovers in Africa and disentangles the notion of the military as the modernizing force. Whether as a revolutionary force, as a stabilizing force, or as a modernizing force, the military has often been perceived as the only organized and disciplined group with the necessary skills to uplift newly independent nations. The performance of Africa's military governments since independence, however, has soundly disproven this thesis. As such, this study conveys the necessity of new civil-military relations in Africa and calls not just for civilian control of the military but rather a democratic oversight of the security forces in Africa.

More books from Taylor and Francis

Cover of the book Digital Collage and Painting by Mathurin C. Houngnikpo
Cover of the book Human Behavior in the Social Environment from an African-American Perspective by Mathurin C. Houngnikpo
Cover of the book The Far Left in Australia since 1945 by Mathurin C. Houngnikpo
Cover of the book Taboo by Mathurin C. Houngnikpo
Cover of the book Adobe Photoshop CS6 for Photographers by Mathurin C. Houngnikpo
Cover of the book Challenges of Policing Democracies by Mathurin C. Houngnikpo
Cover of the book Redesigning Physical Education by Mathurin C. Houngnikpo
Cover of the book Bad Foods by Mathurin C. Houngnikpo
Cover of the book The Conductive Organization by Mathurin C. Houngnikpo
Cover of the book Keepers Book by Mathurin C. Houngnikpo
Cover of the book Parallels and Responses to Curricular Innovation by Mathurin C. Houngnikpo
Cover of the book After the Death of Nature by Mathurin C. Houngnikpo
Cover of the book Maintaining our Differences by Mathurin C. Houngnikpo
Cover of the book Exploring Cultural History by Mathurin C. Houngnikpo
Cover of the book Governance and Public Sector Reform in Asia by Mathurin C. Houngnikpo
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy