Military Engagement ― Influencing Armed Forces Worldwide to Support Democratic Transition

The second volume presents instructive case studies of democratic movements and transitions, almost all prepared by authors from the country or region understudy. They include a focus on the domestic context, followed by a review of the use of outside influence and its success. The cases include Argentina, Chile, El Salvador, Egypt, Hungary, Indonesia, Lebanon and Syria, Nigeria, the Philippines, Senegal, South Africa, Spain, Thailand, and Turkey. Augmenting the case studies are regional overview chapters on Asia, Europe, Latin America, North Africa and the Middle East, and sub-Saharan Africa

Recent events in Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya demonstrated that the way in which the military responds to calls for democratic change is crucial in shaping the outcome of potential transitions. What is less understood, however, is the potential role of outside influence in such situations ?specifically, how military officers and defense officials in the United States and other democracies can use their relationships with military officers in transitioning countries to improve the prospects for democracy.

Under the leadership of Admiral Dennis Blair, the Council for a Community of Democracies has developed a project to inform, guide, and strengthen democratic transitions. They describe how the democracies can prepare ahead of time and respond quickly and effectively in a time of crisis. This project establishes a knowledge base and set of recommendations for military officers and defense officials to support democratic movements.

Dennis Blair served as the U.S. director of national intelligence (the "DNI") from 2009?2010. A Rhodes Scholar, Blair spent a career in the U.S. Navy and retired in 2002 as the commander in chief, U.S. Pacific Command.