Militaries and Societies

Description

This course covers the development of the modern military and its role in politics and society in a wide range of countries, including European, Asian, American, and Pacific nations. It also examines the authoritarian nature of military regimes and the ways they may collapse or be overthrown by democratic uprisings. The final section of the course is devoted to contemporary issues in civil-military relations, including the possible emergence of a new kind of post-modern military, whether soldiers trained for battle are effective as peace-keepers, with a focus on New Zealand peace-keeping, and the return of mercenary forces.