A visiting US academic who specialises in civil-military relations has warned of concerted efforts by foreign actors to undermine democratic military forces.
Addressing the 2025 Chief of Army Symposium in Canberra, Professor Risa Brooks said in countries around the world we’re seeing an erosion and hollowing out of democratic principles of government.
She said in many cases, this erosion included efforts by political leaders to undermine the military's commitment to serve all of society and to stand apart from partisan divisions, in favour of transforming it into an ally of a particular faction or party.
“There is also concerted effort today by foreign actors to undermine democratic militaries,” she said.
“Authoritarian governments are trying to level the playing field through active propaganda campaigns aimed at dividing democratic militaries by amplifying societal tensions within them.
“The global adversaries of democracy know that a military's commitment to serve the common good is a remarkable strength.”
Professor Brooks said for all these reasons, she would encourage civilian and military leaders in every democracy to inoculate their forces against such pressures.
“They should invest in education and socialisation of their military members to strengthen and deepen that understanding of the democratic commitment,” she said.
“Do not assume that the military's core responsibility to uphold the principles of democracy is self-evident to all who serve. Even the most professional militaries may become vulnerable. This is not a time for complacency. The risks are too great.”
Professor Brooks was in Australia as The EG Keogh Visiting Chair at the Australian Army Research Centre, an annual visit by a selected eminent academic in strategic or war studies. The aim is to lift the profile of debate on land warfare issues in Australia.
The scheme is named after Colonel Eustace Graham Keogh, a veteran of WW1 and WW2 and founder of the Australian Army Journal.
Professor Brooks disclaimed any expert knowledge of how Australia does civil-military relations, saying her aim was to paint a sweeping picture of issues across democracies.
She said in the US, serving military personnel and veterans were accorded a high degree of reverence, a regard which had many positive aspects.
But that could detract from addressing contemporary problems.
“Society may get stuck in a particular image of the military and its historical role that is detached from its current character and the security challenges it faces,” she said.
“Balance needs to be struck between the past and the present to ensure a healthy societal military dynamic.”
Professor Brooks said there are inherent frictions or complexities in relations between liberal democratic societies and their militaries.
Liberal societies privileged individual non-conformity while militaries were hierarchical and grounded in tradition. Some citizens might equate engaging with the military as an endorsement of war itself.
“Of course, the point of a military is to prevent war and to protect society if there is no other option,” she said.
“Only by engaging with the military can the public be sure that the armed forces are well prepared for that task and conforming with societal values in the process.”
Professor Brooks said that relationship needed to be based on mutual trust and respect. The public needed to approach the military with a stance of respectful scrutiny.
“In short, the public must hold the military to a high standard unrelentingly so while also appreciating the role it plays in the difficult and turbulent security environment of today,” she said.
“Relatively simple, right? Of course, I realise this is a tall order. Rarely, if ever is this ideal met, but societies can fall closer and farther from the ideal.”
Professor Brooks said civilian leaders needed to avoid being overly confrontational with military leaders or overly deferential.
“A bit of constructive disagreement across the civil military divide can be healthy. It is likely needed for the best outcomes to prevail,” she said.