POL. 4301: MILITARY, SOCIETY AND POLITICS SUB-THEME: MILITARY SOCIETY AND STATE

DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE

BAYERO UNIVERSITY, KANO

POL. 4301: MILITARY, SOCIETY AND POLITICS

SUB-THEME: MILITARY SOCIETY AND STATE

2017/2018, FIRST SEMESTER

INSTRUCTOR: M.M. YUSIF

mmyusif@yahoo.com

mmyusif07@gmail.com

polbuk@yahoo.com

http://www.mmyusif.blogspot.com

INTRODUCTION

‘Society’ is the key word and ‘space’ is the method in the teaching programme of this course 2018. The concept of society is often depicted as “humans among themselves”, that is of different kinds of relationships but governed by historical dynamics. While space is a methodology which contains openness and flexibility in order to understand social relations.

The connection between state and society is evident to us in several ways. However, the relationship between them is highly contentious. State is a social organization with its own intent. As it arises from society and becomes dominant in the society. The controversy is whether it enjoys autonomy in the society. The more recent debates reveal a complex characterisation of the state in modern society.

Again to what extent the military in modern society is autonomous or not in the society. Is it a mere instrument or agent of coercion and violence by the state?

Military science has not loomed large in the tradition of Marxist theory. In both sociological and political science as well as in law and history where military is a common concept for study, modernization/neo-modernization theory dominates.

Ever since, the Marxian idea of separation of the state from civil society, alternative explanations arising from this tradition look in various other ways, relationships between state and other groups in the society.

Here comes the question of military in society and the relationship between state and military. Once again, we may stress these questions: To what extent the military is separated from the state? And to what extent the military is inescapably political?

This course (2018 Academic session) examines the relationship between state and military in view of the debate whether the military is independent or not of state.

A wide range of issues on military in relation to society will be treated. Its orientation is theoretical and it is intended to carry students to develop capacity of theoretical argument with evidence. Hence, students are advised that evidence outside theoretical context do not sustain understanding of a social phenomenon.

COURSE OUTLINE

1.      General Introduction: Overview of the course

2.      Theory and Method: Apath to critical knowledge.

3.      Clarification of the key concepts: Society, state, military; Armed forces

4.      State of the course: A survey of Literature and theories

5.      Re-imagining military and politics: State theory

6.      State and use of force in society

7.      Military, State and Capital

8.       Military and classes in Society: Army seizes political power

9.      Military, State and Revolution in Society: Armed forces as vanguard of Revolution.

10.  Military, State and Private Armies: Collapse of State

11.  The emergence of TNS and the rise of global militarization

12.  Theoretical conclusion

13.  Conclusion: Reports on Seminar  small research projects

RECOMMENDED READING

1.      David Harvey, “Space as a key word”.

2.      Robin Lukham, “The Military, Militarization and Democratization in Africa”: A survey of literature and issues. In Ebo Hutchful and Abdoulaye Batherly (eds). The Military and Militarism in Africa.

3.      Anthony Forster, Armed Forces and Society in Europe.

4.      Charles C. Moskos et al, The Postmodern Military: Armed Forces after the cold War.

5.      Jurgen K. And Jean C. (eds) Military and Society in 21^st Century Europe

6.      Timothy Edmunds, “The Armed Forces and Society”. Journal of Armed Forces and Society.

7.      Martin C. The State and Political Theory. Chapter 2 and 9

8.      Johann Kib. “The Theory of Force”. In his the Theory of the State pgs 238-239; 98-100.

9.      Engels F. “On the Theory of Force”. In his Antii Duhring pgs 195-225.

10.  Lucio Colletti, “ Lenin’s State and Revolution”. In Nation and Class Struggle: A reader in Marxist Politics.

11.  Rosa Luxemburg, The accumulation of capital pgs 454 – 467.

12.  Ernest Mandel, late capitalism chapter 9

13.  Robin Luckham, “Militarism, Arms and the Internationalisation of Capital”. IDS Bulletin volume 8 No.3

14.  A.G Frank, “The National Bourgeoisie and the coup in Brazil”. In his Latin America: Underdevelopment or Revolution.

15.  Jose Nun, “The Middle Class Military Coup”. In R.I Rhodes (ed) Imperialism and underdevelopment a reader.

16.  Jack Woodis, Armies and politics

17.  Eboe Hutchful, “A Tale of Two Regimess: Imperialism, the military and class in Ghana”. RoAPE No. 14 1979

18.  Shehu Othman, “Classes, Crisis and coup: The demise of Shagari Regimes”. African Affairs.

19.  Terrsa Turner and Pade Badru, “Oil and instability: Class contradictions and 1983 coup in Nigeria”. JAM Issue 7 (1985).

20.  Bjorn Beckman, “The Military as Revolutionary Vanguard: A critique”. ROAPE No. 27 (1986).

21.  Sonni T. “The Military and prospects for socialist construct seminar paper”

22.  Peter A.N, Soldiers and Counter Revolution in Liberia”. JAM No. 3 (1983).

23.  John Markakis and Nega Ayele, Class and Revolution in Ethiopia.

24.  Emmanuel Hansen, “The Military and Revolution in Ghana”. JAM No.2 (1982)

25.  William Zantman (ed) Collapse State Chapter 3

26.  Willian Reno, Warlond Politics and African States. Chpaters 3 and 4

27.  Stefan Mair, “The New World of Privatised violence”. In International Politics and society Vol.2 (2003)

28.  Willian I. Robinson, “Towards a Global ruling-Class: Globalization and the Transnational Capitalist Class”.

29.  Willian I. Robinson, “Capitalist Globalisation and the Trans-nationalization of the state”.

30.  John Feffe, “Militarization in the age of globalization”.

31.  Boggs Carl, “Globalization and Neo-militarism”.

32.  Rob Jessop, “Putting states in their place: Once more on capitalist states and capitalist societies”.

33.  Martic C. “Gramsci and the state” in Martic C. op c.t.

34.  Others – Joint Reading

-          Tom Forrest, Politics and Economic Development in Nigeria

-          David Chutter, Defence Transformation ISS Monograph No. 49

-          Samuel P.H “The Soldier and the state: The Theory and Practice of Civil Military Relation.

-          Chunakhra, “The militarization of Politics and Society”.

-          Nicos poulanzas, State power Socialism pgs 123-153

-          M.M Yusif, “The Rise o Industrial Bourgeoisie: The 1983 Coup and the prospects of dependent industrialization in Nigeria”. Proceedings of NAPS Conference, 1985.

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 contact period is for discussion of a disputed question or an important text on the course.

-          On the continuous Assessment Students will be required to do so many things to meet the standard.

a.       Weekly assignment: This is as important as the end of the semester examination because any student who failed to do one will miss all the points ear-marked for the weekly exercise.

b.      A Seminar small research project. The importance of this is as the weekly assignment.

c.       There is going to be small research project Response paper as one seminar will review the work of another.

d.      Working Group Discussion would be organized during contact hours.

e.       A supervised test- the type which test effective performance of students 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 recommendations of Mauro and Rosanna earlier circulated.

-          You are going to be divided into groups – called Seminars –build and sustain capacity to work as a team.

-          The relationship between students on the one hand and the teacher on the other determines a successful teaching, learning and research programme for development of knowledge. So, among you the students talk to each other. Then with your teacher there should be no fear. Fear and learning are  incompatible.

-          All other things at lower level are applied here:

a.       For example, plagiarism and 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 is advised to use and indeed would be rewarded.

c.       Finally, my watch word is be critical, ruthless criticism of all that exist as Karl Marx said. Indeed, criticism facilitates growth of knowledge. In knowledge, there is no  absolute truth. Make your contributions.