The soldier and the state

In this book, Samuel P. Huntington advances the theory of objective civilian control, arguing that the optimal means of asserting control over the armed forces is to professionalize them.

The book is divided into three parts, covering the general theory of the military profession, the historical development of American civil-military relations, and the specific challenges faced during World War II and the Korean War. Huntington analyzes the tension between a conservative military and a liberal democracy, emphasizing the importance of a professional military ethos and its implications for public administration and government.