On Civil-Military Relations
Article Review
A part of learning history is understanding who is making what argument or claim about a subject. What is the strength of the argument and how does the author support the argument with evidence.
In the article review, you will identify the thesis or primary argument made by the author. You will identify the main arguments stated in the first or second paragraph and found in the body of the article with evidence.
Thesis: The thesis of this article is that civil-military relations should not be taken for granted. They really are important, will remain intensely scrutinized, and are much more about relationships than rules.[footnoteRef:1] [1: Dempsey, Martin E. "Civil-Military Relations."Strategic Studies Quarterly15, no. 2 (2021), 6.]
Main Arguments by Author:
The first main argument of the author is that civil-military relations seemto be best measured in the willingness of senior leaderscivilian and militaryto do the hard work necessary to achieve a common understanding of two important factors impacting national security decisions in a political environment. These factors are the loyalty question and the hidden hand of culture.[footnoteRef:2] [2: Dempsey, Martin E. "Civil-Military Relations."Strategic Studies Quarterly15, no. 2 (2021), 6.]
Loyalty is the first issue that crosses the minds of civil and military leaders when they meet with one another.
Culture is the next issue that impacts relations, as military culture has a profound influence on the way the military addresses challenges.[footnoteRef:3] [3: Dempsey, Martin E. "Civil-Military Relations."Strategic Studies Quarterly15, no. 2 (2021), 9.]
Who is the author? Academic/work background? Other writings?
The author of the work is Martin Dempsey, US General (retired) and 18th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Obviously, he has a highly impressive military background, having risen through the ranks to general and then to serve atop the highest...
Dempsey has also written numerous other books, such as Redefining the Modern Military: The Intersection of Profession and
Ethics,[footnoteRef:4] and No Time for Spectators: The Lessons that Mattered Most from...
…unique perspective from a former military leader and provides practical insights for improving civil-military relationships.
The way I see it is this: The U.S. Military's role is to defend the country and its interests against external threats, provide humanitarian assistance, and support national security objectives as directed by the government. The military operates under civilian control, and civilian leaders are responsible for making decisions about the use of military force.
The article highlights the importance of a positive and transparent relationship between civilian and military leaders, which is essential for effective decision-making and the successful execution of military operations. It also acknowledges the unique culture of the military and how it can create tensions and misunderstandings in civil-military relations.
Thus, I would say the author does a sufficiently good job in the article of emphasizing the importance of mutual understanding, respect, and trust between civilian and military leaders, which is critical to achieving national security objectives and ensuring the effective functioning of U.S. military forces.
Bibliography
Dempsey, Martin E. "Civil-Military Relations."Strategic Studies…
