Civil – military relations in India

A perspective

One of the cornerstones of democracy is a healthy civil-military relationship

In peace they affect the internalstability

In war its outcome

India has an Army

Success Story

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Civil-Military Relations- Indian Context

Civil-military relations are dynamic

Change will challenge the civil-military boundary constantly

Social changes

Advent of nukes

Emergence of new technologies

Terrorism & insurgency

Utilization of military for aid to civil power

HR policies, training and orientation of both sides

Status of civil & military professionals in society

Perception management skills of other stake holders

Political guidance, leadership and parliamentary scrutiny

Factors that have affected

Eliot A. Cohen

“Overall, healthy civil-military relations need a military with standards distinct from those of general society and a society that appreciates the need for the difference, even if it does not always approve of the military’s views”.

Firstly, we do not seem to accept the fact that a gap exists in civil-military relations. This is largely because the civilian leadership is not sensitised to military subculture and need to remember that a soldier is not just a civilian in uniform; he has a different ethos.

Secondly, we still do not have an institutionalised framework for handling civil-military problems, and consequently neither side is aware of the limit to which a disagreement is acceptable.

Admiral Sushil Kumar

Concept of Civil Supremacy

In practice it implies pre-eminence

Supremacy of the elected representatives is laid down by the constitution and is beyond question

Concept of Civil Control

Amounts to managing, restraining, monitoring and influencing the military

Implies a series of imposed rules and procedures that limit the authority, jurisdiction and decisions of the military

Concept of Balance Balance is sought to be achieved by

Encouraging professionalism Living by the tenets of the profession Sense of collective identity Responsibility to society at large and not only to a group High intellectual levels and education throughout the

career

Structures for management of national security

“Professionalism promotes mutual respect & supplements control by encouraging the military as well as the civil services to do what they do best”.

Military’s role in core security decision making structures and processes

Distance between the apex military leadership from political decision makers

Military prefers political control, the intervening bureaucratic layer results in ‘bureaucratic control’

Questionable strategic grasp of some of the generalist bureaucratic cadre

Lack of special skills among service officers

Professionalism has not promoted mutual respect

Manipulation of service differences by civil services officials

Why does the system persist?

Politicians are perhaps more comfortable dealing with civil services than the military?!

Ministerial attention spans are of necessity are limited

Frank and unbiased advice by the civil services on the military perspective lends balance and leads to better policy and decision making

The ‘steel frame’ has not kept pace with time and change

The bureaucrats, with a greater grasp of India’s developmental needs, are able to keep a restrictive check and not lead to undue militarisation

There is no restriction on the brass taking up issues with the political head

They are represented in various committees The Chiefs are a part of the Strategic Policy Group of the

National Security Council Invited to meetings of the Cabinet Committee on Security

There are fears that –

The military officer education and rotation system is not helpful in equipping the officers to run a ministry

The role conflict may take place when the military-bureaucrat in an integrated ministry will be required to pass judgement on cases initiated by the parent service

Political Perspective The system has served the nation well

While not averse to change, in the Indian political notion, the timing is equally important

While national security is crucial, an integrated ministry having strategic perspective could skew the developmental agenda

Rebalanced relationship between centre and periphery means increasing domestic political constraints on strategic and defence policy- making

“ Strategic restraint has served India well but the debate between ‘prosperity through peace’, and ‘peace through prosperity’ continues despite a political decision to go nuclear.”

Another perspective

Sunil Dasgupta in Coercion and governance: the declining political role of the military in Asia

“Civilian institutions that held the military in check are weakening. The military’s growing internal security role has given rise to concerns about the future of civilian control over the military … Today the core of the Indian state – politicians, bureaucrats, and the public generally – have become militaristic … what we see is civilian militarism.

Politicians and civilian bureaucrats are willing to use force more often and earlier on increasingly through paramilitary forces and intelligence agencies … India face a greater worry: the erosion of democratic civilian control over its men-at-arms, both the formal military and other armed organizations”.

Arguments For Change

In the changed context, lack of strategic direction from the ministry owing to its strategic incapacity cannot be accepted

The IDS experiment has shown that officers have quite easily imbibed culture that rises above inter-service competition resulting in unbiased ethos

Security challenges along the entire spectrum of conflict and for non-contact war further necessitate an integrated approach to national security with appropriate structural and process changes

Media and its influence

Shift in public discourse

Internet has created a new paradigm new platform for interaction, voicing of opinions and shaping perceptions

24x7 TV gives opportunities to professionals, retired civil services officials and veterans to espouse causes and create awareness

Pro- active media employing innovative techniques

Perception management is being practised through ‘selective leaks’ and friendly media

Recent Discourse

There is a sense that the balance is being damaged by the civilians

The decision making processes are bureaucratic and insensitive

Mistakes of the those in authority have been of omission some of even commission

Military personnel, given their expertise, should staff defence ministry positions and positions in the National Security Council

The military's role acquisitions has been restricted

The appointment of a chief of defence staff is in abeyance

Matters relating to pay and protocol have been dealt with lack of sensitivity

Perspective Historical perspective –evolution through years

Conflicts with neighbours and CI campaigns New structures have evolved

More integration and reforms required Exposure to service officers through deputation and vice-

versa

Parliamentary scrutiny

Public awareness and informed debates through :- Transparency in dealings & opening of historical records Encourage study of National Security issues

Conclusion