The militarisation of British democracy

Democracy under threat is BRLSI’s brand new talks programme taking place between now and December 2026.

Whatever your thoughts about the pressures on our current democracies, BRLSI’s Democracy Under Threat series invites you to pause and take stock as we collectively take the long view through history and the wealth of political thinking which underpins our long held democratic systems and institutions.

But with its long-held democratic traditions, is Britain impervious to any perceived push toward authoritarianism? In his book, The Militarisation of British Democracy, Professor Paul Dixon argues that the military elite and their allies drove Britain into the disastrous 9/11 wars, reinforced trends towards authoritarianism, and are now driving Britain into World War Three. 

In Britain, Dixon says, the military is the model of a conservative-authoritarian (bureaucratic) organisation and strongly associated with the political Right. Consequently, the military’s dominant narrative has been that the “noble” military elite and their allies, rather than “devious” politicians, should be in control. National unity, behind conservative-authoritarian, militarist values, is necessary to defeat the enemy on the front line but also the “enemy within”. A whole of society approach is necessary to manipulate or manufacture support for war. By contrast, democracies are ineffective because of their “weakness”, most particularly their “divisive” pluralism and tendency towards political compromise which leads, inevitably, to defeat.

Do you agree? Join Paul Dixon as he explores how societies begin to strengthen themselves against the rising threat of authoritarianism.

Professor Paul Dixon teaches at the universities of Leicester and Queen Mary’s London. His publications include Warrior Nation (2018), Performing the Northern Ireland Peace Process (2018), (ed) The British Approach to Counterinsurgency (2012), Northern Ireland: The Politics of War and Peace (2nd ed. 2008) and The Militarisation of British Democracy (2024) and uses a theatrical metaphor to explain power and the dynamics of politics.

To learn more about Democracy Under Threat and the exciting range of speakers coming up as part of the programme, don’t forget to follow our Democracy Under Threat Webpage: https://www.brlsi.org/democracyunderthreat/