Law Commons^™

Welcome To The Junta: The Erosion Of Civilian Control Of The U.S. Military, Charles J. Dunlap Jr.

Faculty Scholarship

Colonel Dunlap argues that civilian control of the United States military is eroding as a result of seemingly disparate phenomena. Colonel Dunlap first examines the American tradition of antimilitarism, which he believes no longer effectively restrains the modern armed forces. He then analyzes the effects of the military's elevated public support, the evolving nature of the leadership elite, and the increasing vulnerability of constitutional safeguards to military influence. In an effort to assess the current predicament, Colonel Dunlap introduces the new paradigm of postmodern militarism that challenges traditional notions of civilian control. Noting the potential long-term implications of excessive military …