1.
civilian control of the military; civil supremacy over the armed forces
The principle that elected civilian leaders, not military officers, have ultimate authority over military decisions and policy. A cornerstone of democratic governance.
文民統制は民主主義の基本原則だ。
Civilian control of the military is a fundamental principle of democracy.
防衛大臣は文民統制の象徴として文民から任命される。
The Minister of Defense is appointed from among civilians as a symbol of civilian control.
戦前の反省から、戦後の日本国憲法では文民統制の原則が明確に定められた。
Reflecting on prewar experience, the postwar Japanese constitution clearly established the principle of civilian control.
Composed of 文民 (civilian) and 統制 (control, regulation). Also known by the English loanword シビリアンコントロール. A key concept in Japanese political discourse given the country's wartime history.
USAGE:
Frequently appears in discussions of defense policy, constitutional law, and Japanese history. The concept gained special importance in postwar Japan after the 軍部 (military establishment) effectively controlled government policy in the 1930s-40s. Article 66 of the Japanese Constitution requires that the Prime Minister and all cabinet ministers be civilians.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 文民統制の原則: the principle of civilian control
- 文民統制を確保する: to ensure civilian control
- 文民統制が機能する: civilian control functions properly
- 文民統制を逸脱する: to deviate from civilian control
SIMILAR WORDS:
- シビリアンコントロール: civilian control (English loanword) — the same concept expressed as a loanword; used interchangeably in Japanese
- 統帥権: supreme command authority — the prewar concept of the emperor's direct command over the military, which circumvented civilian oversight
- 軍部: military establishment — the institutional force that civilian control is designed to check