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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.

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 27, 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
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
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
Commentary
Book Review: 'China's Military Transformation' by You Ji
China's military has undeniably made tremendous strides in recent years. You Ji's book provides a collection of interesting and often perceptive observations on political and intellectual aspects of a rapidly modernizing People's Liberation Army.
Jul 5, 2016
Commercial Book
PLA Influence on China's National Security Policymaking
This book assesses the relationship between the People's Liberation Army (PLA) and its civilian masters by moving beyond media and pundit speculation to mount an in-depth examination and explanation of the PLA's role in national security policymaking.
Jun 29, 2016
Journal Article
Party-Army Relations Since the 16th Party Congress: The Battle of the "Two Centers"?
The 12 months between the 16th Party Congress in October 2002 and the party plenum in November 2003 provide a fascinating snapshot of party-army relations in China.
Jun 28, 2016
Report
Defense Institution Building: An Assessment
Presents an analysis of defense institution building (DIB), recommends goals and objectives, identifies partner nation and DIB activity selection criteria, develops a strategy for coordinating activities, and recommends accountability procedures.
Jun 7, 2016
Report
The Center for Excellence in Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance (CFE-DMHA): An Assessment of Roles and Missions
This report examines the Center for Excellence in Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance's history, activities, and roles to determine how its missions can best be performed to achieve the Department of Defense's objectives in this domain.
May 16, 2016
Report
Can the Air Force and Airlines Collaborate for Mutual Benefit? An Exploration of Pilot and Maintenance Workforce Options
This report explores ways the Air Force and commercial airlines could collaborate on issues related to their pilot and maintenance workforces by evaluating benefits, costs, and feasibility from the perspectives of both sides.
Apr 21, 2016
Report
Improvements to Air Force Strategic Basing Decisions
Examines the Air Force's basing decisionmaking process and assesses the quality of the underlying data.
Apr 15, 2016
News Release
U.S. National Security Decisionmaking Processes Need Trimming
Increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of the National Security Council is necessary as the country contends with many more state and nonstate actors, around-the-clock public scrutiny, and exploding nontraditional threats.
Apr 5, 2016
Report
U.S. National Security Decisionmaking Processes Need Streamlining
The U.S. national security system faces a range of management challenges. A leaner, more focused national security decisionmaking system can help the United States succeed in a period of tumultuous change.
Apr 5, 2016
Report
What Are the Advantages and Risks of Special Warfare?
Special warfare provides policymakers with an additional option that can help secure U.S. interests and manage risks. It can stabilize a friendly state or destabilize a hostile regime by operating through and with local state or non-state partners, rather than through unilateral U.S. action.
Feb 23, 2016
Report
A Counterinsurgency Win in Afghanistan?
The 2015 counterinsurgency (COIN) effort in Afghanistan ranks among the low end of historical COIN winners. The Afghan government and security forces are capable of maintaining the current stalemate with the Taliban. This is the first step on the most promising path to peace: a negotiated settlement.
Feb 4, 2016
Report
Operation IRAQI FREEDOM: Decisive War, Elusive Peace
Summarizes a classified five-volume report on the planning and execution of operations in Operation IRAQI FREEDOM through June 2004. Recommends changes to Army plans, operational concepts, doctrine, and Title 10 functions.
Jan 4, 2016

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RAND Topic:
Civil-Military Relations

Topic Synonyms:
Civil Affairs Activities;
CMR

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