Original scientific paper
CIVIL-MILITARY RELATIONS IN CROATIA - PUBLIC ATTITUDES
Tomislav Smerić
; Institut društvenih znanosti Ivo Pilar u Zagrebu
Gabrijela Sabol
; Institut društvenih znanosti Ivo Pilar u Zagrebu
Anka Mišetić
; Institut društvenih znanosti Ivo Pilar u Zagrebu
Abstract
The paper presents and analyzes the results of the research on attitudes of the Croatian public (N = 3.420) with regard to the characteristics of civil-military relations in Croatia, conducted in 2008. Research included establishing public opinion on (1) the stability and character of civil-military relations in the Republic of Croatia, (2) the role and actions of individual actors in the exercise of civilian control of armed forces, and (3) deviations from the desired model of civil-military relations. Results indicate that in the public opinion prevails the image of proportional stability of civil-military relations in Croatia and generally satisfactory level of achievement of formal civilian control of armed forces. However, there is a fairly widespread perception of various forms of deviation from the desired model of civil-military relations, and insufficient involvement of civil society institutions in control the armed forces. CAF officers’ general assessment of the stability and character of civil-military relations in Croatia is largely congruent with the established views of citizens, but the officer’s evaluation of activities of individual actors and of some aspects of deviations from the desired model of civil-military relations differ from the judgments of the public. Overall, the results suggest the existence of the expectations of the Croatian public related to the continuation of building civil-military relations in Croatia and the need for investing extra effort in the development of civil-military relations that are appropriate for a democratic political context.
Keywords
civil-military relations; public opinion; Republic of Croatia; CAF officers
Hrčak ID:
64299
URI
Publication date:
18.6.2010.
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