Everything about Militarization totally explained
Militarization, or
militarisation, is the process by which a
society organizes itself for the production of
violence. It is related to
militarism, which is an
ideology that reflects the level of militarization of a state. The process of militarization involves many interrelated aspects that encompass all levels of society.
Geo-political
The perceived level of threat, influences what potential for violence the state must achieve to assure itself an acceptable level of security. This threat may involve the:
» *
balance of power of neighboring states (Pre-
World War I Europe for example.)
*
terrorism,
rogue states, and
weapons of mass destruction » *threats to state-interests, such as oil, or preventing the spread of a conflicting ideology
Political
Militaristic ideas are referred to within civilian contexts. The
war on poverty declared by President Johnson, and the
war on drugs declared by President Nixon, are rhetorical wars. They are not declared against a concrete, military enemy which can be defeated, but are symbolic of the amount of effort, sacrifice, and dedication which needs to be applied to the issue. They may also be a means of consolidating
executive power, because war implies emergency powers for the executive branch which are normally reserved for the legislature.
Economic
Social
Gender
The military also has a role in defining gender identities. War-movies (ie Rambo) reflect the cultural identities of masculinity with the warrior. (See Gibson, 1994.)
Civil-military relations
- The role and image of the military within a society is another aspect of militarization. At differing times and places in history, soldiers are alternately viewed as rowdy or respectable, (for example - soldiers viewed as baby killers during the
Vietnam war, vs. the
support our troops car-magnets during the
war on terror.
Structural organization is another process of militarization. Before
World War II, the
United States experienced a post-war reduction of forces after major conflicts, reflecting American suspicion of large standing armies. After World War II, not only was the army maintained, but the
National Security Act of 1947 restructured both civilian and military leadership structures, establishing the
Department of Defense and the
National Security Council. The Act also created permanent intelligence structures (the
CIA et al) within the United States government for the first time, reflecting the civilian government's perception of a need for previously military based intelligence to be incorporated into the structure of the civilian state.
How citizenship is tied to military service. Volunteer, draft, or universal conscription reflect whether or not one must have served to be considered a citizen. Compare historical Prussia, where every male was required to serve, and service was a requirement of citizenship, to post-Vietnam America's all-volunteer army.
See also Frevert, 2004, Ch. 1.4, 1.5.
Race
Racial interactions between society and the military:
During imperial Germany, military service was a requirement of citizenship, but Jews and other foreigners were not allowed to serve in the military. (Frevert, 2004, pp. 65-9)
The Holocaust.
In the United States, beyond the Civil War, military service was a way for blacks to serve the country, and later appeal for equal citizenship during World War II. The military was one of the first national institutions to be integrated. In 1948, President Harry S. Truman issued Executive Order 9981 establishing equality within the armed services. The military was also a tool of integration. In 1957, President Dwight Eisenhower sent troops to Little Rock, AK to desegregate a school after the Brown v. Board Supreme Court decision in 1954. (See also MacGregor, 1985.)
Improved race relations was seen as a national security issue during the Cold War. Communist propaganda cited American racism as a major flaw, and America wanted to improve it's image to third-world countries which might be susceptible to Communism.
Eleanor Roosevelt said "civil rights [is] an international question. . . [that] may decide whether Democracy or Communism wins out in the world." (Sherry, 1995, p. 146)
Class
The military also serves as a means of social restructuring. Lower classes could gain status and mobility within the military, at least after levée en masse after the French Revolution. Also, the officer corps became open to the middle class, although it was once reserved only for nobility.
In Britain, becoming a military officer was an expectation for 'second sons' who were to gain no inheritance, the role of officer was assumed to maintained their noble class.
In the United States, military service has been/is advertised as, as means for lower class people to receive training and experience that they wouldn't normally receive, propelling them to a higher position in society.
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