The Construction of Liberal Democracy: The Role of Civil-Military Institutions in State and Nation-Building in West Germany and South Africa (Enlarged Edition)

West Germany's and South Africa's experiences remind U.S. policymakers of the tremendous obstacles and challenges that confront states as they attempt to install liberal, democratic political institutions. These experiences llustrate the intricate complexities and numerous considerations that factor into this process and provide some important lessons for the future. The multifaceted transition process involves a host of overlapping and interrelated political, economic, and social innovations that often must be tailored to the specific historical, demographic, and regional needs of each community. Most scholars and policymakers agree that restructuring the security and civil-military institutions is vital to the transition. The author begins the monograph by outlining the central theoretical and practical challenges associated with designing democratic armed forces and civilmilitary institutions. In essence, the overriding goal for these communities is two-fold: the creation of military...