MILITARY SCIENCE AS A THEORY OF--- (POL 4301)

BAYERO UNIVERSITY, KANO
DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE

MILITARY SCIENCE AS A THEORY OF GLOBALISATION

POL 4301: Military and Politics
2008/2009: First Semester


Instructor: M. M. Yusif
Mmyusif58@yahoo.com
Mmyusif07@yahoo.com
polbuk@yahoo.com
http://www.mmyusif.blogspot.com

Introduction

The title of the course as “Military and Politics” remains the same since it is introduced more than twenty five years ago. And yet in the last three decades the science of military and politics has seen many theoretical and paradigm changes. In the post-cold war period in particular, whereas there are no military regimes to study and analyse, but it is very clear that in many countries – both developed and developing – the power of the military in politics have increased, and generally its relationship with society has changed.

In many countries “the science of military” is been taught in Departments of political science, sociology or history or in political economy classes and war colleges. For many years now the title military and politics has disappeared but many other appropriate titles such as “Armed forces and society”. “Military sociology”; “Military theory and warfare”; Military organization”; etc. are given to capture a relevant subject matter.

The political science discipline in particular is n chaos. It is fast loosing its traditional scientific perspective. As it has gradually and systematically become a fragmented science, it his now building another body widely called “political studies” which combined many disciplines including their methods. Thus, in many countries, especially in Europe and America, the name political science is disappearing. Hardly an academic Department is now called Department of Political Science. This is bound to affect both the subject-matter and content of the original “military and politics” science.

Therefore, the focus of the course changes every academic session, since I have started teaching it. These are:
1. Military and Development 2001/2002 session
2. Military theory and practice 2002/2003
3. Military and Democratization 2003/2004
4. Globalisation and Militarisation 2004/2005
5. Military theories and strategy in the contemporary globalization 2005/2006
6. Military, state and society in the current era of globalization 2007/2008
7. globalization and postmodern military

These have paved ways for reconsideration of the traditional tools, approaches, and the subject-matter as well as the empirical grounds for analysis of “military and politics”. From theoretical perspective it is a shift of paradigm from modernization to post-modernist approach with which we are going to continue in the academic session (2008/2009).

However, in this academic session we are going to go deeper in our efforts to understand globalization from the point of view of military science. Hence, the focus is frame as “Military Science as a theory of gloalisation”.

Course Overview
The course in this academic session is another attempt to continue with what I have started six years ago i.e. re-imagining politics and society in teaching of POL 4301: “Military and Politics”. While it will take into consideration the traditional conception and paradigms in treatment of the subject, but will do away with them in order to see through the new changes taking place between military and science.

Yes! Neo-liberal globalization is like a revolution in every social relation. Every human organization changes as it cannot be sustained under the old rules. So is also the military. The military organization of many countries – in both developed and developing world – have already been transformed.

A close examination of the recent literature on “New Military and politics clearly indicates some new orientations. One is that globalisation is naturally militaristic, therefore the science of military pays attention to military strategy applied by major global institutions to achieve economic and other objectives. Secondly, the free market economy has produced and reproduced a conducive condition for production of instruments and agents of violence which has increased militarization of the society. Thirdly, as a result of the new global economic system, both states, organizations and individuals are facing threats from insecurity. Fourthly, globalization has come with many faces of terrorism, showing increasing militarization of social relations. Fifthly, as the society changes so are the militaries. What is conspicuous is that armed forces are changing both in the organization, structure, profession, method of war and civil military relations. Finally and most importantly is the idea that a New Military i.e. the post modern military has emerged. What is it and what is it not as well as its aspects such as organization, characteristics and relations with state and society are going to be explored.

The course will focus on the transformation of the military in the current era of globalization. Specifically on issues of the structure, professionalism, function, method of war and civil-military relations. In short, it is going to be on changing character of military organization under the forces of globalisation.

A critical understanding of military transformation from a postmodernist approach and theories would make us to cope with intricacies of changing perspectives and scope of “military and politics” and military in politics.

With this approach, a holistic method which combines economics, political science, international relations and political economy will evolve in the understanding of our premise that the use of force which is the essence of military also goes under transformation or as I have said earlier a “revolution”, in the current era of globalization.


In order to capture a perspective within political science studies we would start with the arguments on the scope and future of political studies. We would refer to the early literature on the teaching of “military and politics” and from there explore major texts on New Theoretical lines on the subject – which revolved around transformation of Armed forces.

Course Outline
1. Introduction: Introducing the course and what it involves; where is it in political science; course requirements; assessment of the programme by students; other issues;
2. Teaching of Military and politics today: comparative concepts and categories
3. Constructing military – Society Relation in the current: era of globalisation
4. Globalisation and expansion of military violence: David Helds Model
5. Military Organisation: Theoretical perspectives
6. Military forces in post-modern society: The post-modern military
7. Information Technology and Military Affairs
8. Postmodern warfare system
9. The New Civil-Military Relations system of the new military formations
10. Comparative studies of the new military organization
11. Conclusion I: Reports on project and response papers
12. Conclusion II: Critical comments on class experience




Readings
1. Paul Hirst, The future of political studies
2. Shu-Yun Ma, Political Science at the Edge of Chaos? The paradigmatic implications of Historical Institutionalism IPSR Vol. 28 No.1 (2007)
3. Hamid Hussain, Forbidden Fruit-Military and Politics
4. Ali A. Mazrui, Gloablisation between the market and the military: A Third World Perspective
5. Eboe Hutchful and Adoulaye Bathily (eds) The military and militarism in Africa
6. Paul Commack et al. Third World Politics: A Comparative Introduction
7. David Chuter, Defence Transformation. ISS Monograph
8. A.F. Klimenko, Globalisation and its impact on military politics and military strategy
9. Bragan M. Dueling, paradigms: Modernist versus post-modernist approach
10. Mary Klages, post-modernism
11. Arto Nokkala, constructing post-cold war military politics: The Finnish case in a strategic perspective
12. Chunakhra G. M. The Militarisation of politics and society
13. Gruta Swari; Theoretical postulation: A twin Van in understanding military and politics
14. Claude Serfati; Militarism and imperialism in the 21st Century
15. Timothy E. and others. The Armed forces and society: A framework for analysis
16. Robert cooper, the breaking of Nations: Order and Chaos in the Twenty-First Century
17. Boggs, Globalisation and New Militarism
18. Klepikov D.V. “On the theory of Military Organisation”
19. David Held et al, “Global transformation. Politics, Economics and Culture” Introduction, Chapters 1, 2 and conclusion
20. John Feffer, “Militarisation in the Age of globalization.
21. Yash Tandon, Globalisation and the South
22. Bradford Booth et al, Are post-cold war militaties postmodern.
23. Antony Foster, A Critique of the post-modern military thesis; the European challenge
24. Foster A. “The post modern military” the irony of strengthening defence”. The future of War Vol. 33 No.2
25. No name. The post –fordist military
26. No name: IT and Global Ruling class
27. Max Boot, The paradox of military technology
28. Paul T. M. Network centric warfare: Coalition operations in the age of US Military Primacy
29. Gerald Schmneider, War in the Era of Globalisation
30. Phillip Harmmond, Post-modernity goes to war
31. Richard H. K. The erosion of civilian control of the military in the USA today. Naval war college review vol. 48 No.3
32. Col. Charles J. D. Melancholy Reunion: A report from the future on the collapse of civil-military relations in the united states.
33. Kohn R. “Out of control: The crises of civil-military relation. Journal of public management Vol.10 No.2
34. Albright, D. “A comparative conceptualization of civil military relation”. World Politics Vol. 44 No.3
35. Samuel P. Huntington, The Soldier and the State: the theory and politics of civil military relation
36. Casta Tungaraza, “The transformation of Civil Military Relations” in Hutchful and Bathily.
37. Moskos C. et al (eds.). Te post-modern military: Armed forces after the cold war
38. John F. B. The Indonesian Military as a professional organization: Criteria for Ramifications for Reform
39. Janowitz. The professional solder
40. Kuhlman and collughan (eds) Military and society in 21st Centurt Europe: A comparative Analysis
41. Foster et al “Transforming post-communist militaries: professionalisation of Armed forces in central and Eastern Europe

Course Requirements
The last thirty minutes of each lecture period will be for discussion on some readings or other assignment given as weekly assignment. The weekly assignments are as important as the end of the semester examination. Any student who failed to do one weekly exercise will miss all the marks for the weekly class works.

Evaluation of students will be based on end of the semester examination (70%) and continuous Assessment (30%). On the CA students will normally be required to do so many things as follows:

1. Weekly Assignment
2. A small research project
3. Research Project Response paper
4. ICT usage for learning
5. Supervised test
6. Attendance
7. Poetry composition
8. Critical Comments on classroom experience
9. Working groups discussion

All other things of the requirement of class work in your 200 level also applied. Such as on plagiarism, the ways to improve quality of learning and research and how to praise and penalize hardworking and lazy students respectively.



S/N Authors Title Year
34 Adamu Ismail et al The current era of globalization and changing role of military formation and operations: USA 2007/08
35 Auwal Abubakar et al The science of military and world economic order: A Comparative Analysis of past and present 2007/08
36 Umar Danjuma et al Information technology and postmodern warfare system: A case of US Afghans war 2007/08
37 Hamza Marafa et al The Costs of Postmodern Military System in USA 2007/08
38 Zainul Abideen et al Military Expenditure in African Countries: Old and New 2007/08
39 Hamisu Idris et al Neo-liberal globalization and privatization of violence 200/08
40 Aliyu Zubairu et al Globalization and Military Formation: A case study of Britain 2007/08
41 Aminu Saleh Isyak et al Arms trade and military expenditure in the current era of globalization 2007/08
42 Ibrahim Amadu et al Postmodern Military Science 2007/08






Improve the Quality of Learning and Research Through

1. How to use internet to source reading materials
2. Assessing students examination papers: marking scheme
3. Enhancing students capacity in learning through the use of computer, internet and e-mail
4. introducing Team/Group work in large classes
5. Guidelines for effective performance by students
6. How to make patterned notes from texts
7. Writing examination: A communicative approach
8. How to write group semester paper in large classes
9. How to write book review
10. communicative writing: Exploring the concept
11. Taking note in classroom lectures or from a text
12. Using e-mail for teaching, learning and research
13. Using e-journals and e-books for, learning and research
14. Code of ethics in the class of M. M. Yusif
15. ICT for learning and Education: Beyond information
16. Criticism–Self–Criticism session
17. Guidelines for small research project
18. Progress Report on ICTs for Teaching, learning and Research
19. The underlying guides and principles for teaching in my class
20. Reflecting on teaching military and politics
21. How to do research: What are the problems
22. Information Age: Moving with ICTs to understand the world around us
23. Progress Report on the Teaching of Peace and Conflict Studies.
24. Principles of Teaching and Learning in my classes