Politicization Undermines the Military’s Nonpartisan Ethic

In eroding democracies around the globe, political leaders are seeking to convert the military into a partisan ally and suppress dissent from officers as they consolidate executive power. This dynamic is on vivid display in the United States, with profound consequences for the behavior and incentives of aspiring authoritarians elsewhere. Donald Trump and his allies are using various tactics to convey that the military’s commitment to their partisan agenda is non-negotiable and to change the ideological composition of the institution. That effort will affect the US military’s professionalism and relationship with society.