Governing the military combines the study of governance, democratisation, and policymaking to explore how military politics have unfolded since the return to democracy in Chile. The book offers timely research to understand the rocky road to overcome the civil-military tension of the 1990s and the challenges presented by novel security demands in the twenty-first century, including the militarisation of urban crime and pandemics, and its consequences on human rights. The book will also introduce the reader to failed policies, lack of attention to governance, and decaying democratic practices.

The volume examines eight themes considered fundamental to understand the modern governance of the armed forces: the state of civil-military relations, political transition and military subordination, roles and missions, military effectiveness, fiscal spending, inter-agency challenges, international engagements, and transparency and corruption.