Abstract
This chapter argues that “objective” civilian control of the military may not be achieved now in Africa because there is no political socialization guiding the social formation of the African citizen. Instead it is asking, given all the crises and conflicts in sub-Saharan Africa (except in a few states) since the 1960s, why should there be “objective” civil–military relations in Africa? The chapter is of the view that the “subjective” civil–military relations in the greater part of Africa conform with the unstable social and political history of the region. It suggests a socialization process to build a spirit of nationalism in the citizen before he is admitted into a military school. Political socialization increases the prospect of building “objective” civil–military relations. This chapter presents a general perspective of civil–military relations in Africa. It does not provide detailed analysis of Africa generally or of selected African countries.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Addo, Ebenezer Obiri. 1997. Kwame Nkrumah: A Case Study of Religion and Politics in Ghana. Lanham, MD: University Press of America.
Adekanye, J’Bayo. 1993. Military Occupation and Social Stratification. Ibadan: University of Ibadan.
———. 2005. Reforming the Character of Civil-Military Relations for Democratic Governance in Nigeria after 1999 (University of Lagos Lecture Series, Vol. 8). Lagos: University of Lagos.
———. 2008. Military Organisation in Multi-Ethnically Segmented Societies: A Comparative Study. Ibadan: Ababa Press.
Ake, Claude. 1981. A Political Economy of Africa. London: Longman Publishers.
———, ed. 1985. Political Economy of Nigeria. London: Longman Publishers.
Bratton, Michael, and Van de Walle. 1997. Democratic Experiments in Africa: Regime Transitions in Comparative Perspective. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Dawson, Richard E., and Kenneth Prewitt. 1969. Political Socialization. Boston, MA: Little, Brown & Co.
Dowse, Robert E., and John A. Hughes. 1972. Political Sociology. London: John Wiley Sons.
Finer, Samuel E. 1962. The Man on Horseback: The Role of the Military in Politics. London: Penguin Books.
Gramsci, Antonio. 1971. Selections from the Prison Notebooks. New York: Lawrence and Wishart.
Hill, Hal. 1997. Towards a Political Economy Explanation of Rapid Growth in ASEAN: A Survey and Analysis. ASEAN Economic Bulletin 14: 131–149.
Huntington, Samuel. 1957. The Soldier and the State: The Theory and Politics of Civil-Military Relations. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
Janowitz, Morris. 1960. The Professional Soldier: A Social and Political Portrait. New York: The Free Press.
Luckham, Robin. 1971. The Nigerian Military: A Sociological Analysis of Authority and Revolt 1960–1966. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Mwambari, David, and Sarah Schaeffer. 2011. Post-Conflict Education: The Case of History Curriculum in Post-Genocide Rwanda. In Contemporary Issues in African Studies: A Reader, ed. Ernest Uwazie and Chaunce Ridley, 167–186. Dubuque, IA: Kendall Hunt Publishing Co.
Nyaw, Mee-Kau, and Chan-leong Chan. 1982. Structure and Development Strategies of the Manufacturing Industries in Singapore and Hong Kong: A Comparative Study. Asian Survey 22: 449–469.
Onah, Emmanuel. 2006. Trans-Border Ethnic Hegemony and Political Conflict in Africa: A Comparative Study of the Tutsi of Central Africa and the Fulani of West Africa. Unpublished Ph.D. Diss., University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria.
Onah, E.I. 2008. Trans-Border Ethnic Relations and National Citizenship in Africa: Conflict or Cooperation. A research paper presented at the Cronem Annual Conference on the Theme Nationalism Ethnicity and Citizenship: Whose Citizen.
Onuoha, Browne. 2002. The Poor and the Social Implications of Transition Programme in Nigeria. In Transition Politics in Nigeria, 1970–1999, ed. Browne Onuoha and Mojibayo M. Fadakinte, 242–259. Lagos: Malthouse Publishers.
———. 2012. Arab Uprising, Africa Youth, and the Burden of History: Hegemony or Revolution? Sociology Study 2 (8): 591–604.
Prunnier, Gerard. 2009. From Genocide to Continental War: The ‘Congolese’ Conflict and the Crisis of Contemporary Africa. London: Hurst and Company.
Weber, Max. 1971. The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism. London: George Allen and Unwin Ltd.
Welch, Claude E., Jr., and A. Keith Smith. 1974. Military Role and Rule: Perspectives on Civil-Military Relations. North Scituate, MA: Duxbury Press.
Worldbank. 1995. The East Asian Miracle: Economic Growth and Public Policy. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Copyright information
© 2018 The Author(s)
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Onuoha, B. (2018). Civil–Military Relations in Africa. In: Oloruntoba, S., Falola, T. (eds) The Palgrave Handbook of African Politics, Governance and Development. Palgrave Macmillan, New York. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-349-95232-8_16
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-349-95232-8_16
Published:
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, New York
Print ISBN: 978-1-349-95231-1
Online ISBN: 978-1-349-95232-8
eBook Packages: Political Science and International StudiesPolitical Science and International Studies (R0)