McNamara and Military Behavior

Abstract

Many studies of civil-military relations employ a case study approach. The present study, however, attempts to generate some empirically based propositions regarding the nature of civil-military relations in America as a preliminary step toward theory building. Content analysis of three sources over the period 1953-1964 provides the data with which to investigate the relationship between levels of civilian control and military behavior. Subsequent controls for budgetary allocations are also found to be particularly important for explaining the character of civil-military relations in contemporary America.