Dr. Risa Brooks on the Theory and Paradoxes of Civil-Military Relations

Ever since Samuel Huntington wrote The Soldier and the State in 1957, his theory on objective civilian control of the military has had a profound influence on American civil-military relations. Over the course of this podcast series, we’ve explored that theory’s substance and applications to real-world events. But does Huntington’s theory need an overhaul? Dr. Risa Brooks is a professor of political science at Marquette University. She is one of the leading experts in academic civil-military relations, having written extensively about both American and international issues. Dr. Brooks joins the podcast to discuss her article in the Spring 2020 issue of International Security titled “Paradoxes of Professionalism: Rethinking Civil-Military Relations in the United States.” In that article and in this interview, Dr. Brooks argues that Huntington’s theory of objective control contains several paradoxes and deficiencies that are becoming increasingly important in today’s political and military landscape. We also talked about why students and citizens, civilian and military alike, should learn and think about civil-military relations. “Thank You For Your Service” is a production of the University of Chicago Public Policy Podcasts and does not necessarily represent the official positions of the Department of Defense or the U.S. government. Podcast Production Credit: Thomas Krasnican, host Nick Paraiso, host Tom Lattanzio, producer Aishwarya Kumar, production manager Yi Ning Wong, publisher Special thanks to Dr. Risa Brooks.