Course Description
This course is designed to critically introduce the complex relationship between the military and politics from a comparative perspective. It systematically examines military-political dynamics in state formation and transformation. The main thesis of this course is that military-political relations have historically been shaped in different contexts, giving rise to diverse ideologies, institutions, and roles in influencing state formation (and transformation), particularly in postcolonial states.
This complex process will be examined through three specific contexts: nation-state building, developmentalism, and democracy. Thus, this course also emphasizes national and global dynamics to explain the character and trajectory of military-political relations.
Expected Learning Outcome
- Explain the military-political relationship in state formation and transformation.
- Explain and evaluate various perspectives on the military and politics in three contexts: nation-state formation, development, and democracy.
- Develop a critical analysis of the dynamic relationship between the military and politics through comparative means.
- Demonstrate critical analysis of selected case studies in verbal and written form.
Syllabus
Read the full syllabus here.