Citizens and Soldiers: The Future of Civil-Military Relations

Hybrid

Kori Schake and Leslie Vinjamuri discuss the changing relationship between America's citizens and armed forces and what that means for the nation's defense.

National Guard soldiers walking in front of capital building, adjacent to civilians

Feb

Rahmat Gul / AP

Speakers

Kori Schake
Leslie Vinjamuri

Date and Time

Feb 17: 5:30 - 6:30 pm CST

Doors Open: 5:15 PM

Location

Chicago Council Conference Center, 130 E Randolph Street; or via YouTube

Who Can Attend

For All

REGISTRATION

This event is open to the public.

About This Event

The relationship between America's civilian leaders and its military is evolving, raising questions about the role of the armed forces in national life. Debates over civilian control, the military's place in politics, and the social contract between citizen and soldier are prompting a closer look at assumptions that have guided this relationship for generations. How are these boundaries shifting? What does it mean for military readiness and national security? Join Kori Schake in conversation with Leslie Vinjamuri as they examine how civil-military relations are changing as the United States approaches its 250th anniversary.

Kori Schake’s book, “The State and the Soldier: A History of Civil-Military Relations in the United States,” will be available for sale and signing after the program.

About the Speakers

Kori Schake

Senior Fellow and Director of Foreign and Defense Policy Studies, American Enterprise Institute

Kori Schake is a senior fellow and the director of foreign and defense policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI). Before joining AEI, she was the deputy director-general of the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London. She is the author of five books, including her most recent, "The State and the Soldier: A History of Civil-Military Relations in the United States" (2025).

Leslie Vinjamuri

President & Chief Executive Officer, Chicago Council on Global Affairs

Dr. Leslie Vinjamuri joined the Council in 2025 as the president and chief executive officer, after previously serving as director of the US and the Americas program at the Royal Institute of International Affairs, known as Chatham House, in London. She brings nearly 30 years of experience working at the intersection of international affairs, research, policy, and public engagement.

America at 250: The Arc of Global Influence This content is part of the Council’s America at 250 initiative, a series of high-level dialogues, expert perspectives, public and private programs, and a signature conference focused on the critical questions that will define America’s future.

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