Ebook: Dangerous Instrument: Political Polarization and US Civil-Military Relations

As increasingly contentious politics in the United States raise concerns over the “politicization” of traditionally non-partisan institutions, many have turned their attention to how the American military has been—and will be—affected by this trend. Since its nadir following the end of the Vietnam War, the US military has seen a dramatic reversal of fortune, becoming the most trusted institution in American society. However, this pattern is more complicated than we might think. Just as individuals have become fonder of their military, they have also become increasingly polarized from one another along partisan lines. The result is a new political environment rife with challenges to traditional civil-military norms against the involvement of the military in partisan affairs. In a data-driven analysis of contemporary American attitudes, this book examines the current state of US civil-military affairs, probing how the public sees their military and the effect that partisan tribalism may have on that perception into the future. It studies the dynamics of the civil-military relationship, focusing on the interplay of the public, political parties, media outlets, and the military itself regarding the threat of “politicization.” Amidst broader concerns over the future of stable democracy around the world, this book provides important insights into the effect of partisanship on America’s association with its military, delivering recommendations on ways to repair the relationship into the future.