Some propositions about militarisation Militarisation accords the military or its allies power over a population. While it gains strength in conflict with external forces, internally it often represents a particular set of interests and is linked with other forms of authoritarian and elitist behaviour. From the power to conscript members of the population or to take over property to its influence on political decision-making, militarisation makes the military a central component of how power is structured in society. Militarisation offers privilege and opportunity through promotion within or connected to the military. A military power base often links with networks for social advancement - networks stemming from kinship, tribal, ethnic or political relations or sometimes involved in organised crime.
Militarisation confers social status for military prowess.
If the world is divided into 'patriots' and 'traitors', there is no status higher than 'war hero'. The tendency to fight elections looking back to the past is accentuated after war when a party's identification with the war effort often weighs more heavily than any policies for the future. Militarisation permits an army or armies to usurp social responsibilities, restricting civil participation and insisting on obedience to its chain of command. Civil wars do not pit only armies against each other but the social systems administered by those armies. While destroying many aspects of 'normal' civil administration, an army or a warlord may assume responsibilities for their 'own' people, taking over institutions and granting or withholding access to resources according to a person's or family's loyalty or compliance.