The Politics of the British Army

The British army, unlike some other armies, has never staged a coup d'etat. As a result it has prided itself on its ready subordination to parliamentary government, portraying its nature as essentially apolitical. The reality is very different. Armies are inherently political entities, embedded in the fabric of the state, and intimately involved in the formation and implementation of policy. Hew Strachan examines the history of the British Army since 1660 and shows that it is no exception. The behaviour of many of its most illustrious commanders, including Marlborough, Wellington, Wolseley, and Roberts, as well of more recent figures like Henry Wilson, William Robertson, and Gerald Templer, gives the lie to any strict demarcation between military and political spheres of responsibility. The Politics of the British Army is a work of history with profound contemporary relevance. For if the British army were to become genuinely apolitical - to practise what it preaches - it would be a less effective contributor to the management of Britain's defence.