Introduction
As Hobsbawn
(1973) rightly observed, “ever since the French Revolution all modern
Governments have faced the problem of the relations between civilian
governments and the military”.
This is derived
from the experience of direct military intervention in politics in France when
Napoleon Bonaparte took over power and established a military regime.
The significance
of this history is that contrary to the dominant idea that military intervention
in politics is a phenomenon of third world countries, it is also prevalent in
developed countries.
However, in the
Twenty-First Century, there are many forms of military intervention in politics.
Whereas there is no direct military intervention, but there is widespread
militarism and militarization which become perverse in human society.
Thus, the term
military in the context of this course, in this academic year, refers to
widespread use of force and violence in the relationship between civilians and
military.
The objectives
of the course are:
1-
To
expose students to major theoretical perspectives in the study of military as
part of the society.
2-
To
understand the reasons for widespread expansion of violence in the Twenty-First
Century.
3-
To
understand the effect of globalization on military affairs
4-
To
understand the relation of military as a political actor with others in the
society.
The course is
divided into three parts of a single process of development of knowledge. The
first deals with concepts and major theoretical perspectives. Second with
relationship of military with diverse phenomena of civilians in the society.
Third, are case studies.
TOPICS AND READING
(1)
General Introduction: Overview of
the course; topics and recommended reading; aid for learning and research;
assessment of the teaching programme by students; socialization by students;
other things; division of students into Seminars; discussion on a social
science research method;
Essential
Reading
1.
David
Garson, Handbook of political science method
2.
James
Petras, “The Divergence between Scientific Work and Political Action”.
3.
APA
(2010). Publication Manual. Chapter 1 and 2
Revision
Questions
i.
Political
science research is a social criticism. Why and how?
ii.
Political
science is multi-displinary and so it is resilient to the current crisis in
social sciences
iii.
The
unification of theory and practice strengthens the quality of scientific work.
Discuss
(2)
Clarification of basic concepts: Military; society;
politics; Third World; Armed Forces; Civilians; Twenty-first Century;
Essential
Reading
1.
Charles
C.M. et al, The postmodern Military: Armed Forces after the Cold war. Chapter 1
2.
Jack
Woddis, Armies and politics. Chapters 2 and 3
3.
Others
Revision
Questions
i.
Military
is a sociological concept depicting use of force and violence. As a political
scientist operationalise the term to explain a political phenomenon.
ii.
Military
intervenes in politics not necessary for interest within it but also outside
it.
(3)
State of the
course: A critique of skeptics
Essential
Reading
1-
Eboe
Hutchful and Abdoulaye Bathily (eds) The Military and Militarism in Africa –
Introduction and chapter one
Revision
Exercise
i.
Study
chapter one mentioned above and classified the texts and the issues by
modernization theory and Marxist school of Thought views on military in
Politics. What theoretical name would you suggest for the remaining not with
any theoretical label.
(4)
Military-Society relations in the era of Neo-Liberl
globalization
Essential
Reading
1.
Martin
Shaw, “The Development of Common Risk Society” in Jurgen K. and Jeen C. (eds).
Military and Society in Twenty-First Century Europe
2.
Timothy
E. et al, The Armed forces and society: A framework for analysis”. Journal of
Armed Forces and Society .
3.
Anthony
Forster, Armed Forces and Society in Europe. Pg1-8
Revision
Question
1.
Make
a summary of 1 and 2 above by making pattern notes of each. Come up with
observation for future relationship of military and society. Ask some question
form each
(5)
PMM and New Civil-Military Relations
Essential
Reading
1-
Charles
C.M. et al. op cit.
2-
Albright
D. “A comparative conceptualization of Civil-Military relation” World Politics
vol. 44 No. 3
3-
Samuel
P. Huntington, “The soldier and the state: The theory and politics of
Civil-Military Relations.
4-
Kohn
R. “out of control: The crisis of Civil-Military Relation”. Journal of Public
Management vol. 10 No. 2
5-
Christopher
D. “The Military in Democratic Societies: New Times and new pattern of
Civil-Military Relations” in Jurgen et al – op. cit
Revision
Question
i.
Read
and make a summary (in pattern note form) of Samuel P.H. above. Make critical
observation and ask some questions.
ii.
Globalization
not only integrated economic affairs but also military with civilians. How and
why?
(6)
Military, globalization
and politics
Essential
Reading
1.
William
I. Robinson, “Gramsci and Globalization: from Nation-state to Transnational Hegemony”
2.
A.F/
Klimenko, “Globalization and its impact on military politics and strategy”.
3.
Suzanne
B. “Globalization and politics”.
4.
Jacques
Harsh, “Understanding Global Capitalism: Passive Revolution and Double Movement
in the era of globalization”
Revision
Question
i.
Compare
1-4 above. What is your conclusion of their different positions.
(7)
Reflections
on Civilians versus military in Pre-modern and modern era
Essential
Reading
1-
Hobsbawn
E. Revolutionaries: Contemporary Essays. Chapters 18 and 19
2-
Karl
Marx, class struggle in France Selected Works vol. 1
3-
Karl
Marx, The Civil war in France Selected works vol. 2
4-
Karl
Marx, The Eighteenth Brumaire of Louis Bonaparte. Selected Works vol. 1
5-
Paul
Commacx et al, Third World Politics: A Comparative Introduction
Revision
Question
i.
What
is Bonarpatism?
(8)
Globalization
and expansion of Military Violence
Essential
Reading
i.
David
Held, “The expanding reach of organized violence”. In David Held et al (eds).
Global transformation: politics, economy and culture.
ii.
John
Feffe, “Militarization in the age of globalization”
iii.
Boggs
Carl, “Globalization and neo-militarism
iv.
Karen
Talbat, “Backing up Globalization with Military Might”.
v.
Claude
Serfat, “Militarism and imperialism in the 21st Century”
Revision
Questions
i.
Construct
a theory from (i) above and another from No.2 capable of explaining any
practical social phenomenon
ii.
Globalization
of capital and Militarism are two sides of the same coin. Discuss.
(9)
Globalization, Security and Military
Essential
Reading
1-
Mikkelv,
R. “A parallel Globalization of Terror: Security and Globalization”. In
cooperation and conflict. Vol.37 No.3
2-
Lewis
G. “Globalization, Security and the Authoritarian state”.
3-
Col.
J.T. “Unclenching the fisted land: Globalization and Military Multilateralism
Revision
Questions
i.
Read
and make a summary of No.3 above. Make critical observation and raise some
questions
ii.
Globalization
is insecurity. How and why?
(10)
Post-modern warfare system
Essential
Reading
1-
Paul
T. M. Network Centric Warfare: Coalition Operations in the age of US Military
primacy
2-
Phillip
Hammond, post-modernity goes to war
3-
Major
lice Wilson , The correlates of postmodern warfare
4-
Captain
Paulo F. V. The Information warfare
5-
Gerald
Schereide, “war in the era of globalization
Revision
Question
i.
Make
a summary – in pattern note form of Gerald Scheneider. Make observation and ask
questions.
(11)
Globalization, Military and the Left: Old arguments;
the problems and
new trend
Essential
Reading
1-
Bjorn
Beckman, “Military as Revolutionary Vanguard”. ROAPE No.27
2-
Dick
Howard, “The Left Agenda After September 11 – An American View” 1 PS No4
(2002).
Revision
Questions
i.
The
Military has no place in globalization era Left politics. Why?
(12)
Case Study Discussion: Ghana; Egypt Venezuela and
Indonesia
(13)
Conclusion I: Presentation of Seminar works and
Response papers
(14)
Conclusion II: Theoretical Conclusion; critical
assessment by
students; eating and chatting.
Additional
Reading
1. Engels,
F. Anti-Duhring chapter II, III and IV (On The Force Theory)
2. Engels,
F. “The role of force in History”. In Selected Works vol. 3
3. No
name. “Ghana Revolutionary process: The ideological conflict
4. Stefen
Mair, “The New World of privatize Violence”. IPS vol. 2
5. William
Reno, Warlord politics and African states
6. Chunakhra
G.M. The militarization of politics and society
7. Elizabeth
Neuffer, “Democracy and Security”
8. Wilfriel
V.B. “Re-Nationalization of Military strategy? New challenges for the Armed
Forces in a changing Global Environment”. In Jurgen K. and Jeen C. op. cit
9. Robert
cooper, The Breaking of Nations: Order and chaos in the 21st Century
10.
Gwyn K. and Margo O. “Neo-Liberalism Militarism
and Armed conflict
11.
I. L. Harowitz. Three Worlds of
Development: the theory and practice of international stratification. Chapter
12
12.
Casta Tungaza, “The transformation of
Civil-Military relations”. In Hutchful and Botchily
13.
Michael E. “From Kadesh to Khandahar:
Military theory and the future war”.
14.
Jonotwitz Z. The professional Army
15.
Finer S.E. A man on horseback
16.
Piet konings, The state and the Defence Committees
in the Ghanaian Revolution, 1981-1984
COURSE REQUIREMENT
-
Evaluation of students will be based on
end of the semester examination (70%) and Continuous Assessment (30%).
-
The last 30 minutes of each lecture
period will be for a review of any relevant text, discussion of a disputed
idea, debate or any other thing I may come up with.
-
On the CA students will be required to
do so many things:
(a)
Weekly assignment: this is as important
as the final examination, it is uncompromising as any student who failed to do
one will miss all the points earmarked for class work
(b)
A seminar small research project
(c)
Small research project response paper
(d)
Working group discussion would be
organized during class hours
(e)
A supervised test – the type which test
effective performance of student in learning
(f)
Class attendance is a compulsory
requirement
-
In order to build competence and skills
in work, you would be expected to improve on usage of ICT for learning. Make
use of the recommendations of Mairo and Rosanna I circulated to you at the
Level III.
-
You would also be programmed to
cultivate expressions in poetic compositions. So, poetry writing will be revive
to try self-expressions of the issues under treatment on the course.
-
The relationship between students on the
One hand and students with the teacher on the other hand determine a successful
teaching, learning, and research programme for development of knowledge. So,
between you the students talk to each other. Then, with your teacher, there
should be no fear. I am your facilitator. Fear and learning are incompatible.
-
All other things on the requirement of
class work in your 300 level also applied here:
(a)
For example, plagiarism and any other
academic dishonesty will not be tolerated
(b)
Secondly, active participation by asking
questions, making observation and comments is the best way of learning which
each student must try to use.
(c)
Thirdly, there are on my BlogSpot
Online, many different materials showing how to improve quality of learning and
research. So you are required to access them.
(d)
Finally, my watch word in this academic
year is, be critical, ruthless criticism of everything that exist as Karl Marx
said. In knowledge there is no absolute truth. Make your contribution
