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Joint Force Quarterly

Abstract

In The State and the Soldier: A History of Civil-Military Relation in the United States, Kori Schake offers a concise, historically grounded examination of U.S. civil-military relations from the Founding to the present. Reviewed by Lindsay L. Rodman, the book challenges alarmist narratives by demonstrating that the U.S. military has consistently upheld civilian control, meeting two core tests of democratic stability: presidential authority over senior officers and military compliance with contested policies. Schake moves beyond Huntington’s model of strict civilian–military separation, weaving insights from civil-military scholarship and historical case studies to argue for a more pragmatic understanding rooted in practice rather than theory. Central to her analysis is George Washington’s enduring legacy in establishing norms of military subordination, institutional restraint, and constitutional loyalty. By tracing episodes of tension, reform, and professionalization across U.S. history, Schake provides essential context for contemporary debates, making the book particularly valuable for military professionals and civilian leaders navigating strategic-level civil-military engagement.

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