1st Edition
The Rise of US Military Legalism A New Theory of Military Professionalism
By Doyle K. Hodges
Copyright 2026
238 Pages
7 B/W Illustrations
by
Routledge
238 Pages
7 B/W Illustrations
by
Routledge
Also available as eBook on:
This book introduces and explains the concept of military legalism, and analyzes its importance for US military decision-making.
The book documents a change over the past 50 years in the way in which US military officers make decisions about using force, which it calls "military legalism". Rather than relying solely on professional military judgment and professional military ethics, officers... Read more
Chapter 1: Introduction: What is Military Legalism? Chapter 2: How Widespread is Military Legalism Chapter 3: What Causes Military Legalism? Chapter 4: The Path to Military Legalism Chapter 5: Military Legalism in Wars Big and Small Chapter 6: The Implications and Future of Military Legalism Appendix A: A Brief Primer on Military Justice and Discipline
Biography
Doyle K. Hodges is the Dean of Academic Affairs at the US Naval War College, Newport, RI. He is a retired Naval officer and has a PhD in Public and International Affairs from Princeton University.
