Military Intervention in Democratic Societies by Peter J. Rowe Christopher J. Whelan

Author:Peter J. Rowe, Christopher J. Whelan [Peter J. Rowe, Christopher J. Whelan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780367713560
Barnesnoble:
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
Published: 2021-05-31T00:00:00+00:00

Conclusion

The problems associated with formalizing policies for the use of military forces as replacements make it worth considering whether the current nonpolicy should be preserved in the short run. Today’s legal constraints on the use of military forces as replacements are weak, indeed almost non-existent. Yet certain practical and political constraints continue to present some resistance to automatic activation of troops in public sector labor disputes. These constraints may dissipate over time if the tide of public opinion hardens against public employee strikes and if government develops more confidence in the capacity of troops to serve effectively.

The temptation is to emphasize legal constraints. But the danger is that any formal standard will have the ironic effect of legitimating the use of military forces as replacements in a vaguely defined class of cases. Troops may then be used when the threat to life and property is minor or when other alternatives are available.

In the final analysis, the use of troops to back up civil institutions is a political problem. The best solution would be for wise leaders to make public sector collective bargaining work. But if civil institutions cannot govern themselves effectively, the attraction of a ‘military solution’ may prove irresistible. There is a need to bring this subject into the open. Examination of the proper use of the military in labor conflicts will help constrain unreflective and excessive use of troops to solve civilian problems.

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