During the post-World War II decades, the relations between the American armed forces and the society they served have been well documented. Military professionalism strengthened in all of the services, defense organizations did adapt to changing needs despite service parochialism, and the interactions between military leaders and political leaders were generally well within the scope of American traditions. Then, starting with the Vietnam War and continuing with the end of the draft, the remarkable changes in soldier demographics during the 1980's and the sudden end of the Cold War in 1989, American civil-military relations frayed and tensions abounded. In this post-Cold War context, the roles of the professional Army officer and the Army profession within American society will be examined in an interdisciplinary manner. Particular focus will be given to the Constitutional and sociological foundations of American civil-military relations, the salient tensions post-Cold War, and the evolving role of the Army profession and its commissioned leaders as they serve the Nation in the early years of the 21st Century.
Lessons
40 @ 55 min (2.500 Att/wk)
Labs
0 @ 0 min
Special requirements
One major research paper; compensatory time provided.
