U.S. Civil-Military Relations After 9/11: Renegotiating The Civil-Military Bargain

By Mackubin Thomas Owens

U.S. Civil-Military Relations After 9/11: Renegotiating The Civil-Military Bargain (Jan 27, 2011)

There is no more important question facing a state than the place of its military relative to civil society and the roles that the military exercises. The reason is simple: on the one hand, the coercive power of a military establishment, especially a strong and effective one, makes it at least a potential threat to the regime. On the other, a weak military establishment also threatens the regime because of the likelihood that the former will fail to protect the latter. This is the central paradox of civil-military relations.

US Civil-Military Relations After 9/11 is primarily a work of synthesis that seeks to place events since September 11, 2001 in their proper historical context and to consider them in light of the character of American civil-military relations in general. Tensions in civil-military relations in America are not new. They have recurred periodically since the American Revolution.

Although the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan loom large in the book, U.S. Civil-Military Relations After 9/11 is not simply a rehash of the debates attending these conflicts. Questions concerning the actual conduct of these wars and who was responsible for various aspects of military planning have been addressed by several writers, including Bob Woodward, Tom Ricks, Bing West, Michael Gordon, and Bernard Trainor. The purpose of U.S. Civil-Military Relations After 9/11 is to examine the issues that these fine writers raise from the perspective of the theory and practice of civil-military relations, placing them in the context of the ongoing renegotiation of the civil-military bargain in America.

• Audio of BookTalk: Friday, March 4, 2011, U.S. Civil-Military Relations After 9/11
• Audio and Video of "Supreme Command and Wartime Civil-Military Relations"

About the book:

"Civilian control of our military is the fundamental precept of America's Civil-Military Relations. Effectively using history and keen insights into this complex issue, in this book Dr. Owens provides an informed perspective. In doing so, he reminds us of the military's broad and constant advisory role, of Congress' oversight responsibilities, of our civilian leaders' need for military understanding, and of the overarching need for civil military engagement if we are going to achieve the necessary synergy in defense. The concepts illuminated in this book remind us that if our military is expected to act in concert with civilian leadership's aims, a constant dialogue and reciprocal process is necessary. This is the finest work available today for a serious student of how the military can best serve the Republic."

Gen. James Mattis, USMC

"Mack Owens has experienced war as well as studied it, and is, as a result well-positioned to write about the way in which politicians and soldiers struggle with the formulation of strategy. This careful study of civil-military relations demonstrates both enduring tensions in the American system and the new stresses brought about by changing geopolitics and evolving military technology. A thoughtful and balanced work."

Dr. Eliot A. Cohen, Robert E. Osgood Professor of Strategic Studies, Johns Hopkins SAIS

US Civil-Military Relations After 9/11 is an insightful and highly readable analysis by a noted scholar and commentator on the relations between the US military and the society it defends in the wake of September 11. Theoretically grounded, historically aware, and policy-relevant, it is must reading for an understanding of the evolution of civil-military relations in the US. Policy makers should consider carefully Professor Owens’ analysis and its implications for strategic development and professional military education. It is also an outstanding choice for graduate and advanced undergraduate courses in civil-military relations and military sociology.

John Allen Williams, Professor of Political Science, Loyola University Chicago, Chair and President, Inter-University Seminar on Armed Forces and Society

"In his new book, Mackubin Owens offers a thoughtful synthesis of scholarly debate and incisive analysis of what he terms the "civil-military bargain" in the United States. His analysis demonstrates that contemporary clashes in civil-military relations in fact are expressions of fundamental tensions present since the early days of the Republic. Written in easily accessible language, this book will prove enormously useful to scholars, students and citizens alike."

Risa Brooks, Marquette University

“Mackubin Owens’ US Civil-Military Relations After 9/11 is a resounding “must read” for any student, professor, and participant of U.S. and international civil-military relations. He skillfully weaves and synergizes critical theories, empirical examples, and key debates that provide thoughtful discussion for any civil-military relations or national security course. Professor Owens presents a balanced yet stimulating analysis of the continued negotiation of fundamental norms and decision-making processes within the context of varying patterns of civil-military relations. This book encourages the reader to think more rigorously and creatively about the institutional and cultural relationships between military and society in the post 9/11 environment. It will contribute to the great civil-military relations discussions and debates for years to come.

Rebecca L. Schiff, Harvard University

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