Revolution in Civil-Military Affairs (RCMA): Debating the Contours and Relevance of Pakistan’s Civil Military Relations (CMR)

Abstract

Civil Military Relations (CMR) in Pakistan have always remained controversial. The power equation between the civil and military is being contested since the genesis of Pakistan. However, the pendulum has always swung toward the military side. Fewer journalistic writings argued about civil military integration (CMI) but it could not be materialized as an academic subject. Since the last century, the Revolution in Military Affairs (RMA) is changing the character of war as well as emerging threats. Similarly, the threats of 21st century have been transformed from state or political actors to non-state actors of any kind. This has, in turn, rendered the civilian side in conflict as critical as the military side. Consequently, the concept of Revolution in Civil Military Affairs (RCMA) became an academic subject. The paper will critically apprise of and debate the contours of RCMA, its civilian and military strands and how is it relevant in the case of Pakistan under the hybridity of threats in 21st century.