BPSC-133, Unit-4 Civilian and Military regimes, Notes available for IGNOU.

BPSC-133 OVERVIEW :-

BPSC – 4 CIVILIAN AND MILITARY REGIMES (NOTES)

TOPICS :-

1. Introduction
2. Civil- military relations
3. Military Regimes meaning and features
4. Military in Politics : The consequently

4.1 INTRODUCTION

Military regimes are a sub-set of Authoritarian regmies , but all authoritarian regimes are not ruled by military.

4.2 CIVIL- MILITARY RELATIONS :-

Military refers to all segments of the state- organized and uniformed armed services that’s possess the monopoly over weapons is the defense of the nation- state and its citizens against external military threats, and they are legalized and legitimized as instruments of the state.

1. India :- In the early years after independence, the military was almost making in matters of foreign and security policies. The leadership and the military had entered into a most of the times. Eg- the then head of Indian Army, general (later field marshal) Thimmayya tendering his resignation to the then PM nehru, hours before this Pakistan counter part was due to arrive in Delhi. In India, retired officers of armed forces have been appointed as public representatives.
2. China :- It follows a Marxist ideology. The military is at once a part of ruling structures and yet under the firm control of the party. There was a clear distinction between the two, where the party control the military. The military was often a member of highest decision – making structures in the country.
3. Explaining military intervention in politics:- Soon after decolonisation gathered, the military emerged as a strong political force in many countries . Samuel F Finer, the first social scientist, wrote on CIVIL- military relations in developing countries:

• It explain the absence of functioning and legitimate state institutions as the key factor in promoting military intervention into politics.
• It shows the link between political influence of the military and the role it played during the struggle for independence and subsequent state creation.
• Some of the social condition identified as providing a fertile ground for military intervention include, a lack of social classes, in particular, a political weak middle class, and generally low level of Political mobilisation.

4.3 MILITARY REGIMES : MEANING AND FEATURES :-

States where members of the armed forces make the top political decisions exclusively or predominantly. It different from other forms of Authoritarian in terms of origin or range of governmental penetration into the society. It suffer from an innate sense of lack of legitimacy. It allow limited pluralism though there is no responsible government.

1. Types of military regimes :- The two types of regimes as per the top decision- making are:-

• The military – junta type in which the supreme policy making organ is a junta or command council of officers representing the three services (army, Navy and and force) . It appoints under its authority. It play an active role in policy making.
• A presidential type in which the military plays a supportive role rather than active. Here, the cabinet is formed largely or wholly from civilian. The military role is not limited to being supportive, but extends to play a more active role.

Military regimes can also be distinguished by the way they wield power. Some confine themselves to supervising or patrolling the society. Eg- Thailand. While some not only exert supreme authority in policy- making but also play a large part in actual administration.

2. Strategies of rulership: strategies are common to all military regimes :-

• To manage their constituency i,e. To keep their hold on armed force. This techniques use of ruthless violence to suppress the opposition factions within the armed forces. They elaborate network of intelligence services to monitor the aggregation and articulation of project.
• Military rulers also adopt positive strategies such as increasing the salaries and other allowances and prerequistes of the members of armed forces. Defence allocation once raised, usually remain at high levels in subsequent years.

4.4 MILITARY IN POLITICS: THE CONSEQUENTLY:-

The performance of military regimes in the sphere of political development has been disastrous than in the sphere of economic development. In developing countries, mostly divided on religious, ethnic, linguistic and regional lines, the military alone cannot integrate political developments. In fact, military intervention creates a vicious circle that perpetual the conditions of political underdevelopment, which initially must have brought the military into power. Several armies have been compromised by their political role expansion and suffered humiliating defeats at the hands of others armies that have been encouraged only to excel in professionalism.