DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE
BAYERO UNIVERSITY, KANO
POL. 4301: MILITARY, SOCIETY AND POLITICS
SUB-TITLE: MILITARY, STATE AND SOCIETY
ACADEMIC YEAR: 2015/2016
INSTRUCTOR: M.M. YUSIF
INTRODUCTION
Military
and society is a living science. The essence of this branch of knowledge in
political studies and other social sciences disciplines is to understand the
relationship of military or use of symbol of military i.e. force with other
groups and interest to attain political and economic goal.
Modern
society is Neo-liberal. Its geography is of society made up of market and is
governed by market. The society experiences many years of transformation and so
the military can be seen as part of this process. How does it change into
market institution? What are its new organisational capacity? What is its new
role? Why is it that the symbol of military i.e. use of force has spread like a
wild fire in political and economic relationship?
The
capitalist state is a social organisation with its own logic and interest in
the movement of society. In the neo-liberal era it too goes through
transformation. Because of its immense political power, even if there is
democracy in the society it is seen as using force in its relationship with
other interests in the society.
Therefore,
the military is seen as its instrument. However it may not be so. Then how does
the neo-liberal society affects the relation of state and the military.
Through
theory and method we are going to examine the complex relations of military,
state and society. The relevance of theory and method in learning and research
needs not to be emphasised. As clear theory and adequate data is a guarantee to
making critical knowledge to understand social relations.
Furthermore
the objectives of the course are:
1. To
understand the relation of military with other interests in the society
2. To
understand the effect of neo-liberal globalization on military affairs.
3. To
introduce students to the concept of military beyond the armed forces
4. To
expose students to major theoretical perspectives in the study of military as
part of the society.
The
course will treat several topics from theory and method, the geography of
neo-liberal society and the state to transformation of the military. There is
going to be case studies of this transformation.
TOPICS AND READING
1. General Introduction:
overview of the course; topics and recommended reading; course requirement; aid
for learning and research; assessment of the teaching programme by students;
other things; division of students into seminars; self-criticism discussion on
this class at 300 level.
For
Discussion
-
What is Political
Science? Why is the study of Military and Society is in Political Science but
also in Sociology and in history
-
How is the methodology
in Political Science study different from methodology of study in other social
sciences.
2. Clarification of basic
concepts: Military;
Society; Neo-liberal Society; State; Armed forces.
Reading
-
Various
For
Discussion
-
What is concept?
-
Generate a
controversial discourse on any of the above concepts
3. Theory and Method:
A path to critical knowledge
Reading:
a- Trevor
Bernes (2006). “Between Deduction and Dialectics: David Harvey on knowledge”.
b-
Erik O.W. (1978). Class,
Crisis and the state. Chapter One.
For
Discussion
-
Scientific approach to
knowledge is not a fixed way to understand social phenomena. Discuss
-
The unity of Theory and
practice strengthens the quality of scientific knowledge. Discuss
4. Theory and method in
the study of Military and Society: critical assessment
Reading
a-
Ebor Hutchful and
Abdoulaye Bathily (eds). The Military and Militarism in Africa – Introduction
and chapter one
For
Discussion
-
Study chapter one
mentioned above and separate the texts and the issues by modernisation theory
and Marxist approach on military and society. What theoretical formation would
you suggest for the remaining without any theoretical label.
5. The geography of Neo-Liberal
Society and State
Reading
a- Simon
Clarke, the neo-Liberal theory of society
b- David
Harvey, A brief history of Neo-Liberalism
c-
Raymond plant, The
neo-Liberal State
For
Discussion
-
Neo-Liberal society
minimum state and less military. Discuss
-
The practice of a
neo-liberal state contains logic of militarisation. How?
6. Armed Forces in
Neo-Liberal Society: PMM
Reading
a- Charles
C.M. etal. The Post-modern Military: Armed forces after the cold war
b- Anthony
Forster, critique of the PMM Thesis: The European challenge
c-
Bradford Both etal. Are
post-cold war Militaries postmodern?
For
Discussion
-
Is there postmodern
Military? If no why not? If yes what are its characteristics
7. Regional case studies
(2wks)
Reading
a- Charles
C.M. etal. op. cit.
b- Anthony
Forster, Armed Forces and Society in Europe
c-
Kuhlmann, Military and
Society in Europe in 21st Century
For
Discussion
-
Examine the model of
Charles Moscos by bringing out its central elements
-
Compare any two
countries by showing the elements of continuity and change
8. Neo-liberalism and
Expansion of Violence
Reading
a- David
Held, “The expanding reach of organised violence”. In David Held etal (eds)
Global transformation: politics, economy and culture.
b- John
Feffe, “Militarisation in the age of globalization”
c- Boggs
Carl, “Globalization and neo-militarism”
d- Karen
Talbal, “Backing up globalization with Military right”.
e-
Claude Serfat,
“Militarism and imperialism in the 21st Century
For
Discussion
-
Make a pattern note
review of (a) above. Bring out your observations and ask questions
9. New Military New
Civil-Military relations
Reading
a- Christopher
D. “The military in Democratic Societies: New Times and new pattern of
Civil-Military relations” in Kuhulmann etal op.cit
b- Charles
C.M. etal.op.cit.
c- Samuel
P. Huntington, “The soldier and the state: The theory and politics of
Civil-Military relations”
d- Albright
D. “A comparative conceptualisation of Civil-military relations. World politics
Vol. 44 No. 3
e-
Kohn R. “Out of
Control: The crisis of Civil-Military Relations”. Journal of Public Management
Vol. 10 No. 2
For
Discussion
-
Neo-Liberal society not
only integrated economic affairs but also military with civilians. How and why.
10.
Constructing
a triad relationship of Military, Society and State in Neo-Liberal Society
Reading
a- Timothy
E. and Others. “The Armed Forces and Society: A Framework for Analysis”
b- Anthony
Forster. Op.cit
c- Martin
Shaw. “The development of Common risk Society” in Kuhulmann, op.cit
d-
David Chutter, Defence
Transformation. ISS monograph No. 49
For
Discussion
a-
Make a pattern note
review of No. 1 above. Give your observation on the text and ask questions.
11.
Theoretical
Conclusion: TNS and Global Governance: militarisation of Economic Relations and
the Global Military Strategy
Reading
a- William
I. Robinson, “Towards a Global ruling Class: globalization and the transnational
capitalist class”.
b-
Nattime, “The American
Empire and the Emergence of Global ruling class”
For
Discussion
-
Make a pattern note
review of (a) and (b) above. Give your observations of each and ask question.
12.
Conclusion;
general Discussion including presentation of Seminar works and Response papers.
Additional
Reading
1- Nilfried
V.B. “Re-Nationalisation of Military Strategy? New challenges for the Armed
Forces in a changing global environment” in Kuhulmann op.cit
2- Chunakhra
G.M. The Militarisation of Politics and Society
3- Mary
Klages, postmodernism
4- Bragun
M. Duellings “paradigm: modernist versus post modernist Approach
5- A.F.
Klimenko, Globalization and its impact on military politics and military
strategy
6- Engels
f. Anti-Duhring chapter II, III and IV (on the force theory)
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 organised 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
-
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 teachers, 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
