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Civil-Military Relations

RAND research on civil-military relations includes studies of how a military employs civilian contractors, how military bases interact with their neighbors, and how a nation's military affects its politics — and vice versa.

Journal Article

Journal Article

From Ballot-Boxes to Barracks: Votes, Institutions, and Post-Election Coups

If war is too important to be left to the generals, politics may be too contentious to be left to the civilians. At least this is what frequent military forays into the political arena suggest. But when and why does the military actively intervene in politics?

Mar 26, 2019
Report

An Evaluation of the Corporation for the Promotion of Rifle Practice and Firearms Safety

The 2018 National Defense Authorization Act required an evaluation of the Corporation for the Promotion of Rifle Practice and Firearms Safety and its Civilian Marksmanship Program. This report summarizes the RAND Arroyo Center evaluation.

Feb 25, 2019
Report

Report

Organizational Dynamics Between the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force, Manpower and Reserve Affairs (SAF/MR) and the Air Force Deputy Chief of Staff for Manpower, Personnel, and Services (AF/A1)

This Perspective offers recommendations on how the relationship between the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force, Manpower and Reserve Affairs and the Air Force Deputy Chief of Staff for Manpower, Personnel, and Services might be further refined.

Jan 4, 2019
Commentary

Partner Capacity-Building's Next Phase—Embracing Civil Works?

The way ahead for civil works capacity-building is not without its challenges. But in places that are plagued by extremist violence and irregular warfare, fostering civil society's trust and confidence isn't just an added benefit. It could instead be a targeted outcome.

Oct 16, 2018
Report

What Shapes a Nation's Will to Fight?

When considering threats from Russia and North Korea, it is natural to focus on military capabilities. But incorporating will to fight into the analysis of actual or potential conflicts will enhance strategic planning. A model that can be tailored and applied to various conflict scenarios can help U.S. leaders better understand and influence will to fight.

Sep 20, 2018
Research Brief

Research Brief

Evaluation Finds Excess Property Program Is Efficient and Effective, but Perceptions About Militarized Police Persist

The Law Enforcement Support Office program is efficient and effectively reuses excess Department of Defense property, but perceptions persist that the program contributes to the militarization of police.

May 21, 2018
Report

DoD's Excess Property Program Works, but Perceptions About Militarized Police Persist

The Department of Defense provides excess equipment—everything from desks to rifles to airplanes—at little or no cost to law enforcement agencies across America. This program is efficient and effective, but there are perceptions that it contributes to the militarization of police.

May 14, 2018
Report

Report

Force Presentation in U.S. Air Force History and Airpower Narratives

USAF leaders are concerned that their force presentation construct is lacking. This report presents historical analysis and recommendations to inform USAF deliberations regarding future force presentation constructs.

May 7, 2018
Commentary

Stabilization Is Essential to Accomplishing the Mission

There's good reason to hope that the forthcoming policy on stabilization in places like Iraq will get the United States to the right middle road. But this new effort will fall short if Congress doesn't maintain the necessary funding for the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development.

Apr 24, 2018
Commentary

To Protect Interests Abroad, China Will Feature a Diverse Array of Military, Non-Military Forces

As Beijing grapples with the realities of an economy increasingly susceptible to disruption from distant influences, experts debate how the Chinese military might protect overseas interests. Some have speculated that China may seek a military like that of the United States. Others have dismissed such a possibility.

Apr 9, 2018
Report

What Should DoD's Role in Stabilization Be?

The U.S. military has historically shied away from stabilization activities, only to find itself tasked with performing that role. The experience of the past 15 years provides insights into what DoD should and should not be expected to undertake and into how a more effective approach to stabilization might be developed.

Apr 5, 2018
News Release

News Release

To Protect Overseas Interests, China Likely to Rely More on Contractors and Host Nation Forces Than Its Own Military

China is far less likely to involve its military in security activities abroad than has been the case for the United States or for imperial powers of previous centuries. To bolster security for the Belt and Road Initiative and other economic activities abroad, China will instead rely heavily on civilian contractors and host nation-provided forces, with Chinese military and paramilitary forces playing an important but limited role.

Mar 27, 2018
Report

How China Is Pursuing Overseas Security

Thousands of China's commercial enterprises are located overseas. Millions of its citizens travel abroad each year. To protect its interests from maritime piracy, civil conflict, and other threats, China is likely to rely more on contractors and host nation forces than its own military. What will this mean for the United States?

Mar 26, 2018
Commentary

Minding the Gap: The Military, Politics, and American Democracy

The gap between Americans' confidence in the military versus its civilian counterparts has widened over the last several decades. This has led former military officers to play an increasingly prominent role in politics and changed the civil-military balance in potentially unhealthy ways.

Dec 18, 2017
Report

The Evolution of U.S. Military Policy

Many assume there is a “traditional” U.S. military policy. But today's set of foundational laws for the Army wasn't an inevitable interpretation of the Constitution. Rather, it was the result of gradual changes to statutory law.

May 4, 2017
Report

Report

Assessing and Evaluating Department of Defense Efforts to Inform, Influence, and Persuade: Worked Example

This report presents a realistic but fictional scenario as context for how assessment planning for inform, influence, and persuade efforts should work in practice, demonstrating core principles and best practices for developing effective assessments.

Mar 22, 2017
News Release

News Release

Humanitarian Relief and Reconstruction Program Helped Improve Economic Conditions and Security in Afghanistan

The ability of the U.S. military to quickly provide small-scale humanitarian relief and reconstruction services in Afghanistan enhanced the operational effectiveness of U.S. forces there during the counterinsurgency-focused 2010-2013 time frame.

Oct 13, 2016
Report

CERP Projects in Afghanistan Proved Effective

Projects under the Commander's Emergency Response Program in Afghanistan ranged from rehabilitating a local well to hydro dam and reservoir restoration. The U.S. military's ability to provide humanitarian relief and reconstruction services enhanced the operational effectiveness of its forces there.

Oct 13, 2016
Commentary

In Defense of Defense Analysis

Rather than characterize Robert McNamara's legacy as one of inefficiency, his economic, quantitative analysis of military problems should be portrayed as an innovative, if flawed, first adoption of more sophisticated methods for defense analysis.

Sep 2, 2016
Report

The Value of Military Installation Public-to-Public Partnerships

Partnerships have benefited both U.S. military installations and communities in terms of cost savings, improved operations, access to additional expertise and resources, and improved military-community relations.

Jul 12, 2016

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RAND Topic:
Civil-Military Relations

Topic Synonyms:
Civil Affairs Activities;
CMR

Research conducted by

Researcher Spotlight

Agnes Gereben Schaefer

Associate Director, International Security and Defense Policy Center

Agnes Gereben Schaefer is an associate director of the RAND International Security and Defense Policy Center, and a senior political scientist at the RAND Corporation. Her research specializations include issues related to national security strategy, emerging threats, U.S. military personnel…
Giacomo Persi Paoli

Associate Research Group Director, Defence, Security, and Infrastructure, RAND Europe

Giacomo Persi Paoli is associate director of the Defence, Security and Infrastructure group at RAND Europe, where he leads the National Security and Resilience research portfolio. He is also the head of the Centre for Futures and Foresight Studies at RAND Europe.

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