LAUSR

ABSTRACT African countries have witnessed a significant decline in military coups since the 1990s, yet civil-military relations (CMRs) are still problematic and are further complicated by the episodic occurrence of military coups particularly since 2000. Since Ghana returned to multiparty politics in 1992, the country has won praise as one of the most successful examples of demilitarisation and democratisation. This paper examines the fundamental changes including norms influencing CMRs and lessons from Ghana’s experience. It argues that the state of Ghana’s CMRs has been a consequence of institutional change, norm diffusion, and changing attitudes of actors both in politics and civil-society. However, CMR bargain is fragile and uncertain because of the temptation by politicians to use the military for political ends including elections, to get ahead of their opponents.