Book Review: Overseen or Overlooked? Legislators, Armed Forces, and Democratic Accountability

Authors

• Tom Vance

Files

Description

Authors: David P. Auerswald, Philippe Lagassé, and Stephen M. Saideman

Reviewed by: Tom Vance, US Army Reserve (retired)

In Overseen or Overlooked?, David P. Auerswald, Philippe Lagassé, and Stephen M. Saideman challenge the conventional focus on executive control of the military by spotlighting the often-underestimated role of legislatures in democratic civil-military relations. Drawing on more than a dozen global case studies, the authors reveal how parliaments struggle with capacity and motivation to provide meaningful oversight. This groundbreaking work offers practical reforms and a compelling argument: true democratic accountability in defense requires more than generals and presidents—it demands empowered legislators.

Publication Date

8-17-2026

Keywords

civil-military relations, oversight, coalition warfare, comparative politics, policy reform

Disciplines

Defense and Security Studies

Recommended Citation

Tom Vance, Book Review: Overseen or Overlooked? Legislators, Armed Forces, and Democratic Accountability ( US Army War College Press, 2026),
https://press.armywarcollege.edu/parameters_bookshelf/173