Military disengagement from power in favour of a civilian government is not an uncommon phenomenon, especially in the developing world. First published in 1992, From Military to Civilian Rule is the first comparative study of the motives behind military withdrawal and the establishment of sustainable civilian rule.

Using case studies from Africa, Central and South America, the Caribbean and Europe written by regional specialists, the book looks at the future of civil–military relations in the post-disengagement state. It reviews the factors — organizational, societal, and international — necessary for maintaining civilian rule, and it establishes conceptual themes common to the countries discussed.

This volume will appeal to academics and advanced students with interests in Third World Politics, Latin American Politics, and the role of the military in the State.