Militarism in Developing Countries

Interaction between civilian and military sec-tors is playing an ever-increasing part in the de-velopment of many Third World nations today. Unique in its combined focus on the military and development forces simultaneously at work in these countries, Militarism in Developing Coun-tries presents the latest findings of the best-known scholars in this field.

The major issues, themes, problems, pro-cesses and trends in this vital area of interna-tional diplomacy and study are looked at via a broad spectrum of approaches. A comprehen-sive overview of the situation is contained in chapters including theoretical analyses, case studies and general treatments.

Specific types of development models are re-lated to the expansion of the military role. Power seizures by military forces are discussed in light of the interplay among the changing class struc-tures, organizational structures and institutional processes that created the proper conditions for military takeovers and helped to select the per-sonnel involved. Elite civilian and military groups are examined along with the resultant social changes and development they fostered. Similar-ly, the consequential stagnation or progress that comes from the military's operation as a special-interest group as well as its internal conflicts ofinterest are discussed. Also covered are the po-tentials and limitations of military-sponsored so-cial changes, international trends in the mili-tarization of developing nations and foreign influences on the professional socialization of Third World officers.

This volume deftly highlights the fact that, in most contemporary developing countries, the military institution is inextricably involved not only in politics but also in determining every major social process.

Kenneth Fidel is professor. Department of So­ciology. DePaul University. Although he has pub­lished numerous articles on military organiza­tion, his fields of interest also include problems of housing and land use, urbanization and social structural change.