"Based upon a series of lectures ... delivered at King's College, Un iversity of London, in the Michaelmas term 1956."

Includes bibliographies.

Introduction: the armed forces as a political problem, by M. Howard. --Great Britain: the Crimean War to the First World War, by R. Blake.-- France: the French Army and politics, by G. Chapman.--Germany: from Sch arnhorst to Schleicher, the Prussian Officer Corps in politics, 1806-19 33, by F.L. Carsten.--Russia: army and autocracy, by G.H.N. Seton-Watso n.--Japan: the military domination of Japanese policy, 1931-1945, by F. C. Jones.--Spain: rule by generals, by A.R.M. Carr.--Latin America: the caudilio tradition, by R.A. Humphreys.--The United States: civilian an d military power, by D.W. Brogan.