ABSTRACT
This chapter examines civil-military relations for societal management which is essential to efforts to consolidate democracy in Africa, from the perspective of an African legacy of militarised politics and the dynamics of present trends towards democratisation, demilitarisation and disintegration. The scholarly debate on civil-military relations has been dominated by concepts of civilian control over the military, defined largely in terms of the maintenance of the supremacy of civilian office bearers in the national political decision-making process. It translates political and civilian control into practice. Civil-military relations, as a concept for societal management, have thus implied the existence of civilian governments, cohesive military organisations, and an informed and active civil society. In historical context, Africa's civil-military relations have been characterised by an interventionist culture in politics; insubordination to civilian control and lack of transparency, accountability and professionalism. The chapter deals with issues of civil-military relations in Africa, and more specifically with modalities for enhancing civil supremacy in democratising states.
