American Civil-Military Relations: The Soldier and the State in a New Era

Authors

Dayne Nix

Abstract

Samuel J. Huntington published his seminal work on American civil- military relations, The Soldier and the State, in 1957. His analysis, reflective of the U.S. experience in World War II, Korea, and the Cold War, was designed to “maximize military security at the least sacrifice to other social values.” It has provided a theoretical and practical guide to civil-military relations for more than fifty years. However, in this “new era” of the first decade of the twenty-first century, many have chal- lenged the continued relevance of Hun- tington’s theories.

Recommended Citation

Nix, Dayne (2011) "American Civil-Military Relations: The Soldier and the State in a New Era," Naval War College Review: Vol. 64: No. 1, Article 14.
Available at: https://digital-commons.usnwc.edu/nwc-review/vol64/iss1/14