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This article offers a structural analysis of the relations between the military and the political echelon on the basis of theories concerning the military’s bargaining space vis-à-vis the government. It contends that when the military perceives the conduct of politicians as harmful, it has a tendency to resist by demonstrating its independence and attempting to thwart the politicians’ will. The form and intensity of the military’s opposition is derived from the intersection between the level of perceived harm done to the military and the power relations that exist among the echelons. The military demonstrates over-independence and resistance, and expands its power the more it views the harm done to it as significant and the more politicians who hold executive governmental positions require its “legitimization services” in the face of opposition, or when the military realizes politicians will refrain from restraining it due to a fear of delegitimization by the opposition.