IR3058 Armed Forces, Societies and Governments: An International Perspective on Civil-Military Relations

Academic year

2025 to 2026 Semester 1

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

30

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 9

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Planned timetable

Mon 10 am

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module coordinator

Dr M R De Vore

Dr M R De Vore
This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module Staff

Dr Marc De Vore

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

This module introduces students to academic debates about relations between governments and military organisations. Armed forces are both essential to states' security, yet also pose a latent threat to governments. Indeed, many more governments are overthrown by military coups d'état than succumbed to foreign invasions. Consequently, governments in developing states face the challenge of ensuring themselves against the risk of military interventions in politics. While the menace of military interventions in politics hangs over developing states, even advanced industrial democracies face challenges in their civil-military relations. To shed light on these issues, we will examine the timeless questions of civil-military relations (through classic texts) as well as how the changing nature of military organizations over time. We will also focus on debates about the impact of different modes of civil-military governance in developed states. Finally, we likewise examine civil-military relations in developing states, devoting particular attention to the causes and consequences of military coups d'état.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites

BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST PASS IR2006

Assessment pattern

Coursework = 100%

Re-assessment

3-hour Written Examination = 100%

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

1 x 1-hour lecture (x 10 weeks), 1 x 1-hour tutorial (x 10 weeks), 2 consultation hours with Coordinator (x 12 weeks). 2 hours examination feedback in week 1 of following semester.

Scheduled learning hours

22

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

278

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.

Intended learning outcomes

  • Know how to use IR theory to understand and appreciate how civil-military relations shape world politics.
  • Be able to assess the pros and cons to different forms of civilian control over armed forces.
  • Be able to evaluate the risk of military interventions in politics in states with different characteristics (e.g. wealth, ethnic diversity and legacies of past civil-military relations).
  • Know the fundamental ideas of a number of prominent scholars who have addressed the issue of civil-military relations.
  • Be able to critically engage texts and ideas in tutorial sessions and written essays.