Conclusion

Abstract

The concluding chapter revisits some of the main arguments in this book. It begins by examining the relevance of the absent dialogue framework in describing India's civil–military relations. It thereafter examines whether this framework is unique to India or if resonates with larger debates sorrouding democratic civilian control. Thereafter, relying on insights from India, it revisits the theoretical debates and the problems associated with democratic control and military effectiveness. In terms of theoretical implications, the chapter rejects the Huntingtonian notion of “objective control” and instead argues in favor of what Eliot Cohen calls the “unequal dialogue.” The penultimate section discusses avenues for further research, and the chapter concludes by discussing the prospects for change in India’s pattern of civil–military relations.