Fighting Separately: Jointness and Civil-Military Relations in India. Issue 1 (2nd January 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mukherjee, Anit
• Is Part Of: Journal of strategic studies. Volume 40:Issue 1/2(2017)
• Page Start: 6
• Page End: 34
• Publication Date: 2017-01-02
• Subjects: Indian Military -- Jointness -- Military Innovation -- Civil-Military Relations -- Military Effectiveness -- Defence Reforms -- Kargil War; Strategy -- Periodicals; Military policy -- Periodicals; World politics -- Periodicals; 355.005
• DOI: 10.1080/01402390.2016.1196357
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0140-2390

Abstract

ABSTRACT: How do countries transition from single service to joint operations? This article engages with the discussion on military innovation to argue that civil–military relations are the most important driver for jointness. In doing so it examines jointness in the Indian military. Relying on archival research and primary interviews this article sheds new light on the operations of the Indian Peacekeeping Forces (IPKF) in Sri Lanka from 1987–1990, the 1999 Kargil War and the Post-Kargil defence reforms. The main argument is that the Indian military's transition to jointness has been 'incomplete' primarily because of its prevailing model of civil-military relations. This model prevents civilians from interfering in the operational issues of the military, including on matters pertaining to jointness. It therefore recommends more forceful civilian intervention to overcome the prevailing single service approach.