Joint Force Quarterly
Abstract
This article reexamines civil-military relations through a philosophical lens, arguing that they are far more complex than simple military subordination to civilian authority. Drawing on foundational models from Hobbes, Plato, medieval Christendom, and Clausewitz, it reveals a recurring tripartite structure of society: rulers, warriors, and citizens bound together by mutual responsibility and moral obligation. From Plato’s emphasis on virtue and justice to Clausewitz’s "paradoxical trinity" of people, military, and government, the article shows that the strength of any state depends on trust and collaboration among all three. True civil-military relations, it concludes, must be understood as a dynamic moral partnership essential to the health and security of the republic.
Recommended Citation
John M. Mattox, "The Philosophical Foundations of the Civil-Military Relationship," Joint Force Quarterly 118 (3rd Quarter 2025), 42-48, https://digitalcommons.ndu.edu/joint-force-quarterly/vol118/iss3/7.
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