Military Professionalism and Civil-Military Relations in the West

Western military professionalism and civil-military relations are based on the implicit concept that the military institution is separate from society and is apolitical. There is a great deal of evidence to suggest that such a concept is not only historically unsound but unrealistic in the modern era. The nature of modern conflicts and the nature of liberal democratic systems have obscured, and in many instances eliminated, delineations between the military and society. Consequently, there is a need to redefine military professionalism, based on a new perspective of civil-military relations. The traditional ideal has presumed civilian control and supremacy over the military. In reality however, civil-military relations are based on a variety of informal and formal links between military professionals and civilian elite, and involve a great deal of political activity. Therefore, a more realistic model is one of equilibrium. Such a model is relevant to modern security requirements and fosters a military professionalism whose dimension includes political-social ingredients and a recognition that most contingencies and relationships are rooted in political-military as well as social considerations.