Military rule and nation-building: praetorianism revisited

Examination of the reasons for military rule, and its role in the process of nation building. Structurally, military rule does not create the best environment for nation building in practical terms since the kind of moral behaviour that is basic to nation building would be self-defeating in a militarily ruled society. An educated, politically conscious and mobilized citizenry is the basic insurance against a culture which nurses the potentials for military intervention in politics. It is a primary factor in nation building and in shaping the ideal polity. The proper place of the military in any society is where the constitution of the country puts it, not to be used as an instrument of intraelite competition and vengeance. Bibliogr., notes.