Sociopolitical Sciences and International Military Affairs by Soeters, Joseph;

Short description:

This book examines the connection between sociology and international military affairs, by analysing the work of key social and political scientists in the field.

Long description:

This book examines the connection between sociology and international military affairs by analysing the work of key social and political scientists in the field.

The book demonstrates the renewed relevance of older sociological concepts such as imitation, unanticipated consequences of policies, structural violence, the governance of the commons, collateral damage, McDonaldization, the Garrison State and many others. It also proposes new notions, such as the dynamics of hostilization (as a twin concept of criminalization) and security panic. The work illustrates these concepts through examples from today’s world – including Gaza, the war in Ukraine, conflicts in Africa, and riots in cities such as Amsterdam. It also uses material from conflicts and military actions in the recent past, such as in Rwanda, Bosnia, and Afghanistan. The book is a companion volume to the author’s 2018 Sociology and Military Studies, which examined the link between sociology and the military by studying the work of key foundational thinkers in the field. As a follow-up, the present book presents 14 new authors from the field of general sociology and politics but takes a broader approach in terms of application, including the dynamics of politics, conflict and war.

This book will be of great interest to students of the social and political sciences, military studies, civil-military relations, war and conflict studies and International Relations in general.

‘I enjoyed reading this book. It is a sequel to the earlier Sociology and Military Studies, which had a similar formula that proved very successful. More than that other book, this one is not just about military sociology stricto sensu, but also about the broader field of conflict sociology. The book is a pleasure to read, each time providing an encounter with a well-known sociologist whose writings contain insights that turn out to be surprisingly relevant to this book’s subject. A treasure trove for students about to write a thesis.’

Abram de Swaan, Emeritus Distinguished Research Professor, University of Amsterdam

‘Following Soeters’s volumes on sociology and management in military contexts, this third work expands the analytical lens beyond the armed forces to encompass the broader dynamics of international conflict, revolution and peacebuilding. Soeters illuminates the continued relevance of general social theory to understanding contemporary warfare – from hybrid and cognitive operations to the erosion of democratic structures. This volume cements Soeters’s position as a leading voice in reimagining military sociology as a field deeply informed by the breadth and depth of the social sciences. Through his sustained intellectual endeavour, the field of military sociology has grown conceptually more ambitious and theoretically richer.’

Yagil Levy, Professor, Department of Sociology, Political Science & Communication, Open University of Israel

‘This very timely and original book proposes using theories and ideas of 14 social and political scientists to help us understand why and how violent conflicts and wars erupt, develop and how they can end peacefully. It also analyses the role and functioning of military organizations in these kinds of environments. People interested in making sense of contemporary violent events, such as in Ukraine and Gaza, will find the book particularly interesting and useful, and so will students and scholars in conflicts and military studies.’

Philippe Manigart, Professor Emeritus, Royal Military School, Brussels

Table of Contents:

Introduction  1. Gabriel Tarde: Interaction, imitation, democracy and innovation  2. Pitirim Sorokin: War and revolution, catastrophes and calamities, international relations, altruism  3. Robert K. Merton: “Theories of the middle range” in the military  4. Howard S. Becker: Professional identification – from labelling to hostilization  5. James C. Scott: State interventions vis-à-vis the weapons of the weak  6. Fatema Mernissi: The world of Islam, religious influences and women in military affairs  7. Robert Axelrod: Strategic handling of (rising) conflicts  8. Saskia Sassen: Global cities at war, expulsion and migration, information technology in the military  9. Elinor Ostrom: Governing the commons in security matters  10. Theda Skocpol: Revolutions, welfare policies and the military  11. Johan Galtung: From direct, structural and cultural violence to peace  12. Randall Collins: Prediction, interaction rituals and micro-violence  13. Zygmunt Bauman: Holocaust, modernity and collateral damage  14. George Ritzer: Globalization, McDonaldization and (ir)rationality in the armed forces  15. Conclusions: From war to peace (eventually)