The clausewitzian trinity: reassessing the South African military's relationship with its polity and society
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Date
2015
Authors
Esterhuyse, Abel
Heinecken, Lindy
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Faculty of the Humanities, University of the Free State
Abstract
This article provides an historic–theoretical understanding of civil-military relations in South Africa
and an outline of important influences on South African civil-military relations at present. Historically,
a well-developed professional officer corps shaped South African civil-military relations. Africa’s postindependence
history, though, is full of examples indicating that neglect of the military often translates
into domestic risk and a dwindling of military professionalism. Post-apartheid South Africa seems to
emulate this example. The South African military may be in the barracks at present. However, there
are clear indications that, in the longer term, the military risks promotion of elite interests, patronage
and uncompetitive practices rooted in a single political party. This tendency is rooted in a general
decline of military professionalism due to factors such as a declining defence budget, obsolete military
technologies, a diminishing role of Parliament in overseeing the military function, the nature of
operations and institutional factors such as a distorted professional self-image of military personnel.
Description
Keywords
Military, Defence, Civil-military, Professional, South African National Defence Force (SANDF)
Citation
Esterhuyse, A., & Heinecken, L. (2015). The clausewitzian trinity: reassessing the South African military's relationship with its polity and society. Journal for Contemporary History, 40(2), 71-95.