Civil–Military Relations in the Season of Military Populism: Czechia

Frič, Pavol; Pernica, Bohuslav

doi:10.1177/0095327x221131917

Cited by 5 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…In addition, the CMR in the whole investigated period suffered by significant deficiencies. They have never met standards of CMR in democratic countries (Purkrábek 1997;Kříž 2010;Frič & Pernica 2022).…”

Section: Spatial Distribution Of Military Bases In Czechia In the Tra...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial distribution of military bases and power of interest groups in an emergent democracy

Pernica

Ženka

2022

GeoScape

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Policies in liberal democracies can never be fully sheltered from the influence of interest groups. This is especially true for the flawed or immature democracies that can be found also in the post-communist world. In this study, we argue that the progress of democratization in Czechia has been accompanied by a growing influence of interest groups (local/regional governments, political parties, industrial corporations) on national defence strategy. Focusing on the spatial policy of military base distribution, the study documents deviations from a rational strategy of restructuring and relocations of military bases declared by the General Staff in the 1990s, 2000s, and 2010s in response to a changing geopolitical situation. The content analysis of the interviews with former actors of the defence planning and media analysis showed that one-third of current Czech military bases experienced an influence of interested groups.

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Section: Spatial Distribution Of Military Bases In Czechia In the Tra...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial distribution of military bases and power of interest groups in an emergent democracy

Pernica

Ženka

2022

GeoScape

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“…, 1984) and conceal private concerns behind the public interest. This is enforced by democratic political and military elites (Frič and Pernica, 2022) who shape the defence programme (Enthoven and Smith, 2005) and the defence institution (Dvorak and Pernica, 2021). The presence of the iron triangle, the play of interests group affecting defence policy (Pernica and Ženka, 2022), an excessive profit of defence contractors (Wang and Miguel, 2012) and political sponsorship by suppliers (Pernica, 2020) is typical for institutionalised corruption (Caiden, 1988), a situation when public goods and services are organised by institutions thought in democracy as protectors from corruption.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Small arms procurement and corruption in small NATO countries

Pernica,

Palavenis,

Dvorak

2024

JOPP

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Purpose The study aims to assess military procurement strategy in NATO countries labelled as emerging markets (Czechia, Slovakia and Lithuania) and capitalist Norway, which vary in national culture as indicated by the Hofstede Culture Compass. Design/methodology/approach This comparative case study analyses the procurement of a simple, mass-produced, off-the-shelf military product (FN Herstal MINIMI gun) in four small but very economically free countries from 2008 to 2023. The study answers the research question of how the unit price of MINIMI guns varies across post-communist and historical NATO countries distinguished by the variables operationalising national culture. Findings The general disability of the government to control corruption deviates the strategy of military procurement in post-communist defence institutions from an effective strategy of liberal capitalism, minimising the unit price and risks (Norway), to an odd strategy maximising the unit price and risks by preferring middlemen as agent of hidden agenda (Czechia). Research limitations/implications Some defence institutions in post-communist countries may be burdened by legislature capture, and detailed research is needed to determine this. Practical implications The authors argue that national culture may contribute to significant goal displacement in the procurement strategy adopted by the government in an economically liberal state. Social implications Without perfecting the control of corruption in post-communist defence institutions, the NATO burden-sharing debate on 2% of GDP will remain controversial. Originality/value With variables characterising national culture and the government’s ability to control corruption, the study elucidates a slow pace of convergence of post-communist countries to NATÓs values and procedures.

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“…Another recent study in Armed Forces & Society suggests that Czechia is an “illiberal, authoritarian government” and that the Czech military faces problems due to the “formation of illiberal alliances between populist leaders and the military elite and poses a risk of the army being misused to politically support the authoritarian populist government” (Frič and Pernica, 2022: 4). From an International Relations (IR) perspective, Lewis, Heathershaw, and Megoran describe the idea of peace between authoritarian regimes as an “illiberal peace” which is formed by the crafting of a type of “authoritarian conflict management” (Lewis et al, 2018: 487).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Distinctions With a Difference: Illiberalism and Authoritarianism in Scholarly Study

Waller

2023

Political Studies Review

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Comparative social science concepts such as “illiberalism” and “authoritarianism” are increasingly common terms of art used in academic and policy debates, yet usage patterns and their substantive meaning vary widely across publications and authors. This article presents parsimonious “best-use” conceptualizations of both constructs, underlining the limitations of current, often widely disparate practices. In doing so, it outlines the reasons why this state of affairs is analytically unnecessary, leading to both conceptual stretching and terminological confusion. Illiberalism can most fruitfully be conceptualized positively and ideationally, capturing a distinct form of ideological reaction against hegemonic liberalism, experienced largely over the last several decades, with a variety of case-specific elements. This definition sits in partial contradistinction with other, sometimes-associated concepts such as anti-liberalism, populism, or conservatism and is not associated with regime-type definitionally. Authoritarianism, meanwhile, is most parsimoniously treated as a residual categorization of political regime vis-a-vis the concept of electoral democracy, which accords with the goals for which most scholars deploy it.

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Civil–Military Relations in the Season of Military Populism: Czechia

Cited by 5 publications

References 39 publications

Spatial distribution of military bases and power of interest groups in an emergent democracy

Spatial distribution of military bases and power of interest groups in an emergent democracy

Small arms procurement and corruption in small NATO countries

Distinctions With a Difference: Illiberalism and Authoritarianism in Scholarly Study

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