The end of the Cold War brought widespread optimism about the future of civil-military relations. With a declining need for military preparedness, it was thought, civilian authorities would be better able to exert control over military policies and decision making. But, argues Michael Desch in this thought-provoking volume, the truth is precisely the opposite. In wartime, civil authorities cannot help paying close attention to military matters.

In times of peace, however, the civilian sector is less interested in military affairs - and therefore leaves them to the military. Civilian Control of the Military will be of interest to scholars, civilian policy-makers, military officers, and students.