Civil military fusion : a cross-national assessment between Indonesia & Singapore from the 1990s to the 2010s

Abstract

Although Singapore and Indonesia have experienced very different forms of civil-military development in the past two decades, cross-national assessments between different regime-types remain uncommon and should be acknowledged as valuable in the examination of civil-military relations within the region. This paper seeks to explore recent developments in civil-military relations between the two nations, focusing on the mechanisms and processes that lead to or deny civilian control over the military. In examining these two nations side-by-side, a clearer understanding of the unique trajectories that have emerged in these case studies can be obtained. In particular, this paper will examine the role of military and civilian structures that promote or obstruct the pursuit of strong civilian oversight over the military, as well as the role of personnel reshuffles within the military and former military officers who transition into civilian leadership. This paper ultimately seeks to shed light on the unique civil-military relations that are displayed by both of these nations.