Disinformation & Misinformation
Emory University
Abstract:
What determines military effectiveness? Previous literature has examined factors such as military doctrine, culture, and capabilities, as well as regime type, and civil-military relations, but has largely ignored military leadership quality. Competent military leaders positively influence battle outcomes by ensuring proper implementation of battle plans and quick reaction to an increasingly dynamic battlefield. This paper formally models the relationship between high-ranking military commanders and their immediate subordinates to examine the commander's ability to evaluate her personnel. I vary the ability of the subordinates to signal their commander to determine how different signaling structures influence what commanders may learn. This analysis reveals that commanders opt for less informative signals from subordinates as the military professionalizes, potentially impeding their ability to identify and remove incompetent subordinates. Leaving incompetent subordinates in command reduces the ability of the military to improve. Evidence from the US Army's leadership decisions after the Battle of Kasserine Pass and Operation Avalanche illustrate these results.
Discussants:
Jun Koga Sudduth, University of Strathclyde
Patricia Sullivan, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Idean Salehyan, University of Texas - Dallas
Toby Rider, Texas Tech University
OPSC Coordinator: Emily Ritter, University of California - Merced
Graduate Assistant:
Peter D. Carey II (University of California Merced)
