A Militarization of German Defense Politics?

This article examines the evolving dynamics of civil-military relations within Germany’s executive branch since 1990. Germany’s constitutional framework traditionally ensures robust civilian control over the military through a strict separation of civilian and military spheres within the Bundeswehr, a civilian-led Ministry of Defense, and limits on the Bundeswehr’s domestic operations. However, recent developments, including the integration of military personnel into civilian roles, the elevation of military authority within the Ministry of Defense, and the growing involvement of the Bundeswehr in non-defense functions, suggest a significant reconfiguration of this balance. Through an institutional analysis approach, this study investigates these structural and procedural shifts, analyzing their implications for civilian control in German defense policymaking. The findings underscore the importance of reassessing Germany’s civil-military relations to ensure that civilian control mechanisms remain robust in the face of evolving security and governance dynamics.