ABSTRACT
Military power exists in its relation to state power. It is geared to defend a well-defined geographic terrain and a certain body of people having a common set of economic, psychological and linguistic elements within this terrain. The capacity of the military in Third World nations to help establish a political system depends upon three main factors: its control of the instruments of violence, its ethos of public service and national identity, and its representation as an articulate and expert group. A continuing source of concern for working in the area of comparative international development is the ever-widening disparity between political democracy and economic development. From an empirical perspective, social science determines what is meant by stability over time in terms of survival rates. The military establishment is compelled to align itself with either traditional social classes or modern social classes. Economic growth is a necessity, whereas political mobilization is declared to be a luxury.
