Rethinking civil-military relations in Africa: Beyond the coup d’état
Based on:
Book (2022)
Explores the complexities of civil-military relations in Africa, emphasizing the need to move beyond traditional coup d’état narratives to understand the nuanced interactions between military and civilian authorities.
Brief by:
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In Africa, the historical and contemporary dynamics of civil-military relations are deeply intertwined with the continent’s political evolution. The traditional narrative of coups, often seen as military interventions in politics, has dominated the discourse. However, this perspective is increasingly seen as reductionist, failing to capture the socio-political complexities unique to African governance. Influential works, such as Samuel P. Huntington’s ”The Soldier and the State,” have historically framed coups as military dominance over political affairs, but this overlooks broader dynamics. The book ”Rethinking Civil-Military Relations in Africa: Beyond the Coup d’état” challenges these conventional views, arguing for a more nuanced understanding that considers the socio-political factors influencing military involvement in governance. The editors and contributors highlight the need to reassess military and political authority in Africa, moving beyond binary narratives of military versus civilian rule, which are prevalent in Western-centric approaches.
The book presents a critical analysis of civil-military interactions, emphasizing the importance of interdisciplinary approaches to understanding these relationships. By examining recent political upheavals in countries like Mali, Sudan, and Zimbabwe, the authors illustrate a shift from overt military dominance to more subtle patterns of military involvement in politics. They propose a model that emphasizes regime proximity and social embeddedness, suggesting that African militaries often serve dual roles as protectors of the state and facilitators of social dynamics. This approach highlights the necessity for a fresh theoretical lens to understand civil-military engagements, considering historical legacies, socio-economic factors, institutional structures, and cultural contexts that shape these interactions.
Key findings
The book challenges the conventional coup-centric paradigm, advocating for a broader conceptual framework that incorporates varying degrees of military engagement with civil society and government.
Evidence
The authors propose a taxonomy of coups, including ''ambiguous coups,'' ''good coups,'' and ''constitutional coups,'' based on evidence of actual events (pp. 7–8). This broadens the civil-military concept and accounts for the varying ways of gaining and retaining political power under erratic socio-political conditions.
What it means
This nuanced analysis highlights the necessity for a fresh theoretical lens to understand civil-military engagements, emphasizing the dual roles of African militaries as both protectors of the state and facilitators of social dynamics.
The volume underscores the importance of political legitimacy in mitigating military interventions, challenging the conventional wisdom that attributes military coups to structural or economic conditions.
Evidence
In Chapter 2, the authors examine ''hard cases,'' such as the coups in Egypt and Mali, to elucidate the complexities surrounding legitimacy and military culture (pp. 39–64).
What it means
The analysis underscores the pivotal role that political legitimacy plays in shaping civil-military relations across Africa, highlighting the need for a more nuanced approach to understanding military interventions.
The book critiques the oversimplification of the military's role in governance, advocating for the need to gain political legitimacy by any actor seeking power.
Evidence
Chapter 3 discusses the African Union's evolving response to coups, noting that ''the anti-coup norm is already beginning to fade as states prioritize strategic interests over normative principles'' (p. 66).
What it means
This critical examination unravels the complexities surrounding regional governance and military authority, complicating any attempt to develop an overarching narrative of civil-military relations in Africa.
The volume emphasizes the necessity for a broadened perspective on coups as they relate to civil-military relations, considering underexplored realms such as military recruitment, social dynamics, and security sector reform.
Evidence
Chapter 8 advocates for a reevaluation of civil-military relations in light of the diminishing frequency of coups, urging consideration of these factors as vital in understanding military influence within governance (pp. 185–206).
What it means
This approach reinforces the volume's central premise regarding the necessity for a broadened perspective on coups, recognizing the complexity of Africa's socio-political realities amid changing regional dynamics.
Proposed action
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Rethinking civil-military relations in Africa: Beyond the coup d’état
Cite this brief: Fanga, Martial. 'Rethinking civil-military relations in Africa: Beyond the coup d’état'. Acume. https://www.acume.org/r/khisa-m-day-c-eds-2022-rethinking-civil-military-relations-in-africa-beyond-the-coup-detat-boulder-and-london-lynne-rienner-publishers-249-pp-95-00-isbn-9781955055406/
Brief created by: Professor Martial Fanga | Year brief made: 2025
Original research:
- Khisa, M., Fanga, M., & Day, C., Khisa, M., & Day, C. (Eds.). (2022). Rethinking civil-military relations in Africa: Beyond the coup d’état. Boulder and London: Lynne Rienner Publishers. 249 pp. $95.00. ISBN 9781955055406. Boulder and London: https://doi.org/10.1177/0095327X241308232. –
Research brief:
Explores the complexities of civil-military relations in Africa, emphasizing the need to move beyond traditional coup d’état narratives to understand the nuanced interactions between military and civilian authorities.
In Africa, the historical and contemporary dynamics of civil-military relations are deeply intertwined with the continent’s political evolution. The traditional narrative of coups, often seen as military interventions in politics, has dominated the discourse. However, this perspective is increasingly seen as reductionist, failing to capture the socio-political complexities unique to African governance. Influential works, such as Samuel P. Huntington’s ”The Soldier and the State,” have historically framed coups as military dominance over political affairs, but this overlooks broader dynamics. The book ”Rethinking Civil-Military Relations in Africa: Beyond the Coup d’état” challenges these conventional views, arguing for a more nuanced understanding that considers the socio-political factors influencing military involvement in governance. The editors and contributors highlight the need to reassess military and political authority in Africa, moving beyond binary narratives of military versus civilian rule, which are prevalent in Western-centric approaches.
The book presents a critical analysis of civil-military interactions, emphasizing the importance of interdisciplinary approaches to understanding these relationships. By examining recent political upheavals in countries like Mali, Sudan, and Zimbabwe, the authors illustrate a shift from overt military dominance to more subtle patterns of military involvement in politics. They propose a model that emphasizes regime proximity and social embeddedness, suggesting that African militaries often serve dual roles as protectors of the state and facilitators of social dynamics. This approach highlights the necessity for a fresh theoretical lens to understand civil-military engagements, considering historical legacies, socio-economic factors, institutional structures, and cultural contexts that shape these interactions.
Findings:
The book challenges the conventional coup-centric paradigm, advocating for a broader conceptual framework that incorporates varying degrees of military engagement with civil society and government.
The authors propose a taxonomy of coups, including ”ambiguous coups,” ”good coups,” and ”constitutional coups,” based on evidence of actual events (pp. 7–8). This broadens the civil-military concept and accounts for the varying ways of gaining and retaining political power under erratic socio-political conditions.
This nuanced analysis highlights the necessity for a fresh theoretical lens to understand civil-military engagements, emphasizing the dual roles of African militaries as both protectors of the state and facilitators of social dynamics.
The volume underscores the importance of political legitimacy in mitigating military interventions, challenging the conventional wisdom that attributes military coups to structural or economic conditions.
In Chapter 2, the authors examine ”hard cases,” such as the coups in Egypt and Mali, to elucidate the complexities surrounding legitimacy and military culture (pp. 39–64).
The analysis underscores the pivotal role that political legitimacy plays in shaping civil-military relations across Africa, highlighting the need for a more nuanced approach to understanding military interventions.
The book critiques the oversimplification of the military’s role in governance, advocating for the need to gain political legitimacy by any actor seeking power.
Chapter 3 discusses the African Union’s evolving response to coups, noting that ”the anti-coup norm is already beginning to fade as states prioritize strategic interests over normative principles” (p. 66).
This critical examination unravels the complexities surrounding regional governance and military authority, complicating any attempt to develop an overarching narrative of civil-military relations in Africa.
The volume emphasizes the necessity for a broadened perspective on coups as they relate to civil-military relations, considering underexplored realms such as military recruitment, social dynamics, and security sector reform.
Chapter 8 advocates for a reevaluation of civil-military relations in light of the diminishing frequency of coups, urging consideration of these factors as vital in understanding military influence within governance (pp. 185–206).
This approach reinforces the volume’s central premise regarding the necessity for a broadened perspective on coups, recognizing the complexity of Africa’s socio-political realities amid changing regional dynamics.
Advice:
n/a
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