Give six reasons for the reluctance of military regimes to hand over power to civilian administrations

Answer Details

Military regimes are often reluctant to hand over power to civilian administrations for the following reasons:

1. Love of power and its privileges: Once in office, military rulers enjoy the enormous power, prestige and material benefits of office and are unwilling to give them up.
2. Fear of prosecution: Having committed abuses, corruption or human rights violations, they fear being tried, punished or disgraced once they lose the protection of office.
3. Unfinished programmes: They frequently claim that their transition or reform programmes are incomplete and use this as a reason to prolong their stay.
4. Economic and personal interests: Military officers and their associates who have amassed wealth and business interests want to protect these gains, which a civilian government might threaten.
5. Distrust of politicians: They argue that the politicians are corrupt, divided and incapable of good governance, and that handing over would return the country to chaos.
6. Ambition to perpetuate themselves: Some rulers seek to transform themselves into civilian presidents or install loyal successors so as to retain influence.
7. Fear of instability and revenge: They dread the political reprisals and instability that could follow their departure from power.