The Man on Horseback

The Role of the Military in Politics

Nonfiction, Social & Cultural Studies, Political Science, Politics, History & Theory
Cover of the book The Man on Horseback by Samuel Finer, Taylor and Francis
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Samuel Finer ISBN: 9781351479790
Publisher: Taylor and Francis Publication: September 4, 2017
Imprint: Routledge Language: English
Author: Samuel Finer
ISBN: 9781351479790
Publisher: Taylor and Francis
Publication: September 4, 2017
Imprint: Routledge
Language: English

The role of the military in a society raises a number of issues: How much separation should there be between a civil government and its army? Should the military be totally subordinate to the polity? Or should the armed forces be allowed autonomy in order to provide national security? Recently, the dangers of military dictatorships-as have existed in countries like Panama, Chile, and Argentina-have become evident. However, developing countries often lack the administrative ability and societal unity to keep the state functioning in an orderly and economically feasible manner without military intervention.Societies, of course, have dealt with the realities of these problems throughout their histories, and the action they have taken at any particular point in time has depended on numerous factors. In the ""first world"" of democratic countries, the civil-military relationship has been thoroughly integrated, and indeed by most modern standards this is seen as essential. However, several influential Western thinkers have developed theories arguing for the separation of the military from any political or social role. Samuel Huntington, emphasized that professionalism would presuppose that the military should intervene as little as possible in the political sphere. Samuel E. Finer, in contrast, emphasizes that a government can be efficient enough way to keep the civil-military relationship in check, ensuring that the need for intervention by the armed forces in society would be minimal. At the time of the book's original publication, perhaps as a consequence of a post-World War II Cold War atmosphere, this was by no means a universally accepted position. Some considered the military to be a legitimate threat to a free society. Today's post-Cold War environment is an appropriate time to reconsider Finer's classic argument.The Man on Horseback continues to be an important contribution to the study of the military's role in the realm of politics, and will be of interest to stu

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

The role of the military in a society raises a number of issues: How much separation should there be between a civil government and its army? Should the military be totally subordinate to the polity? Or should the armed forces be allowed autonomy in order to provide national security? Recently, the dangers of military dictatorships-as have existed in countries like Panama, Chile, and Argentina-have become evident. However, developing countries often lack the administrative ability and societal unity to keep the state functioning in an orderly and economically feasible manner without military intervention.Societies, of course, have dealt with the realities of these problems throughout their histories, and the action they have taken at any particular point in time has depended on numerous factors. In the ""first world"" of democratic countries, the civil-military relationship has been thoroughly integrated, and indeed by most modern standards this is seen as essential. However, several influential Western thinkers have developed theories arguing for the separation of the military from any political or social role. Samuel Huntington, emphasized that professionalism would presuppose that the military should intervene as little as possible in the political sphere. Samuel E. Finer, in contrast, emphasizes that a government can be efficient enough way to keep the civil-military relationship in check, ensuring that the need for intervention by the armed forces in society would be minimal. At the time of the book's original publication, perhaps as a consequence of a post-World War II Cold War atmosphere, this was by no means a universally accepted position. Some considered the military to be a legitimate threat to a free society. Today's post-Cold War environment is an appropriate time to reconsider Finer's classic argument.The Man on Horseback continues to be an important contribution to the study of the military's role in the realm of politics, and will be of interest to stu

More books from Taylor and Francis

Cover of the book Growth, Structural Change and Regional Inequality in Malaysia by Samuel Finer
Cover of the book Quality of Life in Child and Adolescent Illness by Samuel Finer
Cover of the book Political Parties and Party Systems by Samuel Finer
Cover of the book Art of Teaching Peacefully by Samuel Finer
Cover of the book Myth, Symbol, and Meaning in Mary Poppins by Samuel Finer
Cover of the book The Rationality of Feeling (RLE Edu K) by Samuel Finer
Cover of the book Photoshop for Video by Samuel Finer
Cover of the book Public Schools That Work by Samuel Finer
Cover of the book Addressing Offending Behaviour by Samuel Finer
Cover of the book A Guide to Authentic e-Learning by Samuel Finer
Cover of the book Hidden Depths: The Story of Hypnosis by Samuel Finer
Cover of the book Identity by Samuel Finer
Cover of the book Deconstructing the Reconstruction by Samuel Finer
Cover of the book Urban Design: Method and Techniques by Samuel Finer
Cover of the book Grief and Its Transcendence by Samuel Finer
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