Episode 11: Dr. Risa Brooks, MAJ Michael Robinson, and Dr. Heidi Urben on the Socialization of Civil Military Norms and Non-Partisanship

On this edition of the SOSH podcast, we sit down with Risa Brooks, Michael Robinson, and Heidi Urben to discuss their upcoming paper on the socialization of civil-military norms for West Point cadets. How do cadets interpret the concept of civilian control and military subordination? Are Huntingtonian norms of separated spheres and apoliticism the correct framework to be teaching cadets? What’s the difference between an apolitical military versus a non-partisan military? We explore these questions and more.

This episode was originally recorded on the morning of January 22nd, 2021, before the confirmation of GEN Lloyd Austin as the Secretary of Defense.

Please email us a SOSHresearchlab@westpoint.edu with any comments, suggestions, and critiques.

 

Dr. Risa Brooks is the Allis Chalmers associate professor of political science at Marquette University, nonresident senior associate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and adjunct scholar at West Point’s Modern War Institute.

MAJ Mike Robinson is an assistant professor of international affairs at West Point and an Army Strategist. He received his PhD in political science from Stanford University, where his research focused on civil-military relations and partisan polarization. 

Dr. Heidi Urben is a retired US Army Colonel and SOSH faculty alumni who is currently an adjunct associate professor in Georgetown University’s Security Studies Program and an adjunct scholar at West Point’s Modern War Institute.

The views expressed on this podcast are those of the speakers, and should not be seen as reflective of the official positions of the US Military Academy, the US Army, the Department of Defense, or any government entity.

 

Links to Works mentioned by our Guests

Risa Brooks. “Paradoxes of Professionalism: Rethinking Civil-Military Relations in the United States.”  https://www.belfercenter.org/publication/paradoxes-professionalism-rethinking-civil-military-relations-united-states

 

Brooks, Robinson, Urben. Article in Washington Post, Monkey Cage discussing the nomination of GEN Lloyd Austin for Secretary of Defense. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/12/09/biden-has-picked-retired-general-defense-secretary-heres-why-it-matters/

 

Brooks, Robinson, Urben. Article in Political Violence at a Glance discussing what the cadet survey can tell us about the GEN Lloyd Austin nomination. https://politicalviolenceataglance.org/2020/12/08/how-bidens-pick-for-defense-secretary-might-shake-up-civil-military-relations/