Dangerous Instrument: Political Polarization and US Civil-Military Relations

by Michael A. Robinson

Overview

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 a low point following the end of the Vietnam War, the U.S. military has experienced a dramatic reversal of public opinion, becoming one of the most trusted institutions in American society. However, this trend is more complicated than it appears: 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.

In a data-driven analysis of contemporary American attitudes, Dangerous Instrument examines the current state of U.S. civil-military affairs, probing how the public views their military and the effect that partisan tribalism may have on that relationship in the future. Michael A. Robinson studies the sources and potential limits of American trust in the armed services, focusing on the interplay of the public, political parties, media outlets, and the military itself on the prospect of politicization and its associated challenges. As democratic institutions face persistent pressure worldwide, Dangerous Instrument provides important insights into the contemporary arc of American civil-military affairs and delivers recommendations on ways to preserve a non-partisan military.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780197611562
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	12/08/2022
Series:	BRIDGING THE GAP SERIES
Pages:	312
Sales rank:	656,409
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Michael A. Robinson is a former Assistant Professor of International Affairs at the United States Military Academy at West Point and an Army strategist. A researcher on U.S. and comparative civil-military relations, he is a non-resident fellow at West Point's Modern War Institute and holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from Stanford University.

Table of Contents

List of Figures
List of Tables
Acknowledgments

1. Introduction

2. That Fair and Warlike Form: How America Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Military

3. Deafening Whisper: The Utility of the Military Voice

4. Return to Sender: Media Reporting and the Partisan "Credibility Gap"

5. No Time to Explain: Cognitive Biases and Partisan Perceptions of the Military

6. Delusions and Grandeur: Weakening Civil-Military Norms and Politicization

7. Missing in Faction: The Future of Civil-Military Relations

Appendix
Notes
Bibliography
Index

Editorial Reviews

"Using state of the art methods, Robinson's Dangerous Instrument systematically unpacks the politicization of the U.S. military—explaining both why and how the military's perceived relationship to political parties is shifting. Robinson's compelling insights offer a major contribution to scholarly and practical debate about U.S. civil-military relations." — Risa Brooks, Allis Chalmers Associate Professor of Political Science, Marquette University

"Michael Robinson has produced an exceptional guide for navigating the maelstrom of modern civil-military relations and provides key insights for how our theories must adapt to the era of increased political polarization and collapsing confidence in our national institutions." — Jason K. Dempsey, author of Our Army: Soldiers, Politics, and American Civil-Military Relations

"Timely does not begin to cover Robinson's book as the state of American civil-military relations is as perilous as it has been in 160 years. He punctures the myth that the military has not been affected by the intense partisanship dynamics that have tainted all other public institutions. Robinson provides keen insights into how partisan dynamics are shaping the place of the U.S. military in American politics, based on the creative and rigorous deployment of surveys. This book is essential reading not just for scholars of civil-military relations but for those seeking to understand the decline of American institutions." — Stephen M. Saideman, Paterson Chair in International Affairs, Carleton University

"Robinson has produced an indispensable book on the American military and its changing relationship to our broader public. His research reveals the ways societal trends are affecting the military, eroding the norm of an apolitical culture: the American public is clamoring for partisan political activity by both active duty military and veterans, even as they respect the institution of our military less for engaging in it." — Kori Schake, Senior Fellow and Director of Foreign and Defense Policy Studies, American Enterprise Institute

"This superb book comes at a critical time in U.S. civil-military relations. Robinson not only provides an excellent framework to evaluate politicization of the military but also offers clear remedies on how to restore its non-partisan character. This remarkable piece of scholarship by one of the sharpest minds in the field of civil-military relations today is a must-read for elected officials, service members, and Americans of all stripes." — Heidi A. Urben, Georgetown University, author of Party, Politics, and the Post-9/11 Army

From the Publisher