ABSTRACT
The civilian society both empowers and constrains US military forces, not only in terms of human capital and political support, but in evolving civilian norms relating to the conduct of war and the composition of military forces. Civilian expectations are affected by the perception of civilians of military success, the costs incurred, and the military institution itself. This chapter explores these phenomena and discusses their implications for the US armed forces and for American civil-military relations in the future. A project completed some years ago discussed the international threat through three eras: before, during, and after the Cold War. The domestic environment is also changing, whether as a result of the changing international environment or other social forces. The chapter discusses the American way of war appropriately begin with the great military historian Russell F. Weigley. It cites the Postmodern Military study, which suggests that the dominant military professional evolved in response to the changing threat.
