Routledge Governing the Military - Presidential Briefings Series

A military serves as a nation's most significant foreign policy tool and a primary instrument of last resort. In Governing the Military, published by Routledge as part of the Presidential Briefings Series, readers explore the complex relationship between civilian leaders and military institutions. This text examines why civilian control is often encumbered and fractured due to organizational culture, societal roles, and military autonomy. This historically informed book provides essential context for students of the presidency and national security professionals. It addresses the various challenges a new U.S. President faces when attempting to manage military size and autonomy during peacetime and beyond. By studying these dynamics, readers gain a better understanding of the obstacles to effective civilian oversight and the structural realities of modern national security leadership.