Domestic instability, the military, and war

In my dissertation, I seek to explain when the military will use force internally to protect its organizational interests, and when it will use force externally for the same reasons. When domestic political institutions are unstable, the military's interests will be threatened, and civilians will be unable to control the military. In other words, institutional instability makes the military both willing and able to use force to protect its interests. Whether the military uses force domestically or internationally depends upon two variables: the degree to which the military monopolizes force in the country; and the degree to which civilian groups are united against the use of force domestically. When the military monopolizes force and civilians are disunited, then the military will act as King or King-maker, use force domestically to protect its interests, and pursue a relatively pacific foreign policy (to avoid risking its dominant position at home). When civilians are disunited and the military fails to monopolize force, then the military will act as Policeman, use force domestically to protect its interests, and again pursue a relatively pacific foreign policy (to focus resources on armed domestic rebels). Finally, when the military monopolizes force and civilians are united, then it will be deterred from using force domestically. Instead, the military will use force abroad, provoke external enemies, and as the only organization capable of 'protecting' the country, it will be able to protect its own interests.; These hypotheses are tested in five case studies: Indonesia (1956-71), Argentina (1969-82), Japan (1926-41), Germany (1888-1914), and the Indo-Pakistan War of 1965. The dissertation contributes to the literature on instability and war by specifying when domestic instability promotes international war, and when it encourages international peace. It contributes to the literature on militarism and war by specifying when the military will use force domestically to protect its interests, and when it will use force internationally for the same reason.