CIVILIANISATION OF MILITARY REGIMES: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS

This pioneering comparative analysis examines the processes and challenges of transitioning from military to civilian governance across different political contexts. The article investigates the phenomenon of 'civilianisation'—where military regimes attempt to legitimize their rule through various forms of political liberalization while maintaining substantial control. The research employs a comparative framework to analyze case studies from different regions, including Latin America, Africa, and Asia, identifying common patterns and distinctive features in civilianisation processes. The study examines the motivations behind military regimes' decisions to initiate political openings, including internal pressures, international factors, economic considerations, and legitimacy concerns. The analysis explores different models of civilianisation, from controlled transitions with military oversight to more genuine democratization processes. The article also assesses the outcomes of these transitions, examining their sustainability, impact on civil-military relations, and implications for democratic consolidation. Furthermore, the research identifies key factors that influence the success or failure of civilianisation attempts and offers theoretical insights into the dynamics of regime transition in military-dominated political systems.

The transition from military to civilian governance represents one of the most complex processes in political development, with this article providing a comprehensive comparative analysis of civilianisation across multiple case studies. The research begins by conceptualizing civilianisation as a distinct form of political transition, differentiating it from both revolutionary overthrow and negotiated democratization. The analysis examines case studies from Latin America, focusing on countries like Brazil and Argentina where military regimes were experimenting with controlled political openings. The study also investigates African examples, including Ghana and Nigeria, where alternating military and civilian governments created unique patterns of civil-military relations. Asian cases from countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Indonesia provide additional comparative perspectives on military withdrawal from direct political control. The article identifies common triggers for civilianisation attempts, including economic crises that undermine military governance competence, internal divisions within armed forces, international pressure and conditioning of aid, and growing civil society demands for political participation. The research analyzes the institutional mechanisms through which civilianisation occurs, examining constitutional reforms, election management, party formation, and legislative restructuring. The study pays particular attention to the role of military institutions themselves in shaping transition processes, including how armed forces protect their corporate interests during political openings. The analysis evaluates the outcomes of civilianisation attempts across different cases, identifying factors that contribute to successful democratic consolidation versus patterns where military influence persists in politics. The research also examines the international dimension of civilianisation, including how superpower competition, regional organizations, and international financial institutions influence transition processes. Based on the comparative analysis, the article develops theoretical propositions about the conditions under which civilianisation is likely to succeed or fail, and offers policy recommendations for supporting sustainable democratic transitions. The findings contribute to understanding one of the fundamental challenges in political development during the late Cold War period.