The impact of civil-military relations on military reform

Military reform became in the 1980's a multifaceted subject, with all sorts of inputs from former government officials, academics, and members of the armed services. The subject is so vast, and so complex, that despite the best efforts of many, substantial problems remain. The thesis of this dissertation is that postwar administrations have been grappling with problems more fundamental than faulty equipment or outmoded organization, ones that concern the historically ambivalent relationship between the military and society in the United States. Many authorities, such as Machiavelli, Clausewitz, and Huntington, have felt that this relationship is of fundamental importance for the success of a nation's armed forces in both peace and war.;The work is organized into three parts: historical, theoretical, and some suggestions for change. As James Blackwell states, "the criticisms of the Pentagon have a remarkable timelessness", and indeed, many of our current problems have antecedents in both our recent and distant past. As a number of theorists point out, the relationship of a democracy to its military is often complicated, particularly in one so blessed by geography as the United States. My proposals for change include a more functional military, national service, and most importantly, a redefinition of national security to include functions such as peacekeeping in concert with other powers.