What is a Defence Minister?

Introduction A defence minister or minister of defence is a cabinet official position in charge of a ministry of defence, which regulates the armed forces in sovereign states. Background The role of a defence minister varies considerably from country to country; in some the minister is only in charge of general budget matters and procurement… Read More

An Overview of Civilian Control of the Military

Introduction Civilian control of the military is a doctrine in military and political science that places ultimate responsibility for a country’s strategic decision-making in the hands of the civilian political leadership, rather than professional military officers. Civilian control is often seen as a prerequisite feature of a stable liberal democracy. Use of the term in… Read More

Civil Leadership, Soldiers Confused…

“When the civil leadership is ignorant of military manoeuvres but shares equally in the command of armies, the soldiers get confused.” Sun Tzu (400 BCE to 301 BCE) Sunzi, Wade-Giles romanisation Sun-tzu, also spelled Sun Tzu, personal name Sun Wu, (flourished 5th century BC), reputed author of the Chinese classic Bingfa (The Art of War),… Read More