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Samuel P. Huntington; The Soldier and The State: The Theory and Politics of Civil-Military Relations
By Townie 76
Samuel P. Huntington; The Soldier and The State: The Theory and Politics of Civil-Military Relations; Cambridge, The Belknap Press of Harvard University; 1957
Several weeks ago, during my move to Northern Virginia, as I was separating my books into categories, I picked up the late Samuel P. Huntington, The Soldier and the State, I did so for two reasons, as he had just recently died I wanted to gander at his first work which had a decided impact on the United States Military and two because of some research I am doing, I thought he would be a good starting point. I first read this book while a Cadet at the Virginia Military Institute, and again while in graduate school, so my intent was only to scan particular chapters of the book. However, once I began reading, the genius of Huntington was once again evident to me, I have gone back and reread the entire book.
While over fifty years old, this book is a Classic, and one that all Officers and Non-Commissioned Officers of the Armed Forces of the United States should read. This book was a product of the 1950’s and in some respects attempts to explain McCarthy, MacArthur, and other political forces of that era, but more importantly seeks to explain the professional evolution of the United States military. Huntington was one of number of academics and intellectuals, who were veterans of World War II and who’s education the G. I. Bill paid and who came to prominence during this period. Huntington book is classic Political Science, as it relies understanding history and not the quantification of garnered facts and research.
A word of caution to those reading this book, Huntington uses the term Liberal to describe the United States. Do not be taken back by this term, as he is using it in the “classical sense.” Until 1960’s Liberal was often used to refer to individuals who placed great emphasis on human liberty and were well versed in Classic politics as exemplified by Aristotle. The term liberal, in contemporary America, is often used in a pejorative way and whose definition is more that of someone who is socialists than classic liberal. (See for a general description of classic liberalism.) Huntington book is but one of a number of books written in the Post World War II which sought to explain the unique politics of the United States. Other books of this period are Louis Hartz, The Liberal Tradition in America: An Interpretation of American Political Thought since the Revolution, Richard Hofstadter, The American Political Tradition and the Men Who Made It, The Age of Reform: from Bryan to F.D.R, and The Paranoid Style in American Politics, and Other Essays.
One shall also note another strength of this book, the unwritten British Constitution is held in high esteem. Huntington, while shaped by the prevailing view shared by many American political scientists of the period that the unwritten British Constitution was superior to our American Constitution, in the end concludes that the American Constitution properly reflects the nature of our republic. On page 190 he states:
The Constitution has contributed its share to obstructing the growth of a strong party system such as exists in Great Britain. It has also contributed its share to obstructing effective civilian control such as exists in Great Britain. The restraints of a written constitution have proved effective against some of the most powerful functional imperatives.
Now that I have provided the cautions in reading this book, why should one undertake reading this seminal work? For one simple reason it is a well written and research study of the evolution of professionalism in not only the American military but also in Western influenced militaries. Is it a complete study? No for he only examines in detail the evolution of Professionalism in German (e.g. Prussia) and Japan. He also provides great insights into the professionalism of the British and French militaries but not in the detail, which he provides on Germany and Japan.
His study of the American military is instructive, historic, and I am afraid badly out of date with the United States Military in 2009. It is instructive and historic, as it details not only the development of professionalism in the United Military, but the political currents, which guided the American military towards professionalism. In reading this book, it is imperative that the readers bear in mind that the professional military, which he wrote about, is vastly different than the professional military of today. It is a vastly different professional military than when I entered the Army in 1976.
The biggest change, which has occurred since his writing the book in 1957 is the development of the symbiotic relationship between the military and defense contractors. Dwight Eisenhower in farewell address to the nation in 1961 warned of the dangers of the military –industrial complex. Today, those dangers are real, profound, and have an effect on our national security. The symbiotic relationship between the military and the military-industrial complex is a hindrance to a truly professional military aligned with the national security interest of the nation. When, as we have seen in recent past, military leaders question and openly circumvent the civilian leadership decisions on military acquisition decisions, one must wonder who their ultimate loyalty is to.
While I do not begrudge any Senior Leader or for that matter any member of the Armed Forces from securing good and adequate employment in their post military career, I have to wonder, if all acquisition decisions have been made based on what is best for the contractors and future employment. The symbiotic relationship is an unhealthy to the core of the professional military. I suspect, that if Huntington was alive, and writing this book in 2009, that this would be a focal point of his discourse. More importantly, the relationship between uniformed (and I should mention the civilian leadership but that is another question and discussion) and defense contractors enables the uniformed military to wait out the civilian leadership by circumventing the Executive leadership and covertly lobbying members of Congress; and overtly having the defense contractors lobby members of Congress. Those ad in Washington Post advertising the relative merits of Boeing and EDS Tankers were not aimed at the general public but were designed to influence 535 Americas who happen to be members of Congress.
As you will note, this book has caused me to reflect on the words and wisdom of Samuel Huntington classic The Soldier and State. Readers may disagree with what I written, and that is alright, provided it stimulates an educated and civil discussion.
Post Script: Samuel Huntington died this winter. In his obituaries he was more remembered for another book he wrote, The Clash of Civilizations. I have not read the book, but I have read the article written for Foreign Affairs which was the genesis of the book. Huntington, who was active in the Democratic Party until death, was pilloried by many on the left who accused him of being the inspiration for many of the neo-conservative ideas. This is unfortunate, as he was a man of ideas and big thoughts, whose writing bear reading and reflection upon. If anything Huntington was a man who believed in the principals laid down by the founding fathers, and exercise by bold and decisive leaders throughout our nation history; in particular Theodore and Franklin Roosevelt, who each in their own way, contributed greatly to creation of a truly professional American military.
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