The article argues that recent executive overreach and politicization have severely undermined established norms of U.S. civil-military relations. To restore professional standards, the incoming Congress must actively exercise its oversight powers, moving beyond mere criticism to demanding transparency in defense policy and personnel decisions. Key reforms include enforcing meritocratic promotion processes, requiring documented justification for senior officer removals, and preventing the partisan use of the military. These actions are crucial for bolstering public trust and ensuring the military remains a nonpartisan instrument of civilian control.
Why Violence Persists in Nigeria
English Summary
The persistence of violence in Nigeria stems primarily from systemic governance failures across federal, state, and local levels, rather than solely from external threats. Key evidence points to underfunded security services, a culture of judicial impunity, and the neglect of borders and rural areas, which create havens for armed groups. Compounding this are severe socio-economic pressures, including widespread poverty, high youth unemployment, and deadly resource disputes (e.g., farmer-herder conflicts). For stability, the report argues that Nigeria requires substantial and sustained investments in institutional capacity and governance reform to reverse the descent into instability.
中文摘要
尼日利亞的暴力持續性，主要源於聯邦、州和地方層級的系統性治理失能，而非單純來自外部威脅。關鍵證據指出，安全服務資金不足、司法免責文化盛行，以及邊界和農村地區的疏忽，共同為武裝團體創造了藏匿點。加劇局勢的是嚴重的社會經濟壓力，包括普遍的貧困、高青年失業率，以及致命的資源爭議（例如農民與牧民衝突）。報告認為，為實現穩定，尼日利亞需要投入大量且持續的資源，用於提升制度能力和推動治理改革，以扭轉其陷入不穩定的趨勢。
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