The response of an autocratic nation's armed forces is crucial to the outcome of democratization movements throughout the world. But what exact internal conditions have led to real-world democratic transitions, and have external forces helped or hurt? Here, experts with military and policy backgrounds, some of whom have played a role in democratic transitions, present instructive case studies of democratic movements. Focusing on the specific domestic context and the many influences that have contributed to successful transitions, the authors write about democratic civil-military relations...

"This handbook is about the role of armed forces in the support and spread of democracy," as Blair states in the Introduction. He provides a concise overview of the topic, including a set of recommendations for officers and defense officials. In eight brisk chapters, Blair shows how established democracies can--and why they should--take full advantage of their points of contact to move dictatorships toward democracy. He explores the potential for democratic armed forces to influence change both in dictatorships like Iran and North Korea and transitioning countries such as Egypt, Kazakhstan...

The response of an autocratic nation's armed forces is crucial to the outcome of democratization movements throughout the world. But how can military officers and defense officials in democratic nations persuade their counterparts in autocratic regimes to favor democratic transitions? Here, Admiral Dennis Blair confronts this hard-edged challenge with a primer on the factors that affect military behavior during democratic transitions.

"Military Engagement" makes the strong case for why the armed forces of any country should favor democracy and why, contrary to conventional wisdom, many...