Militarism, Militarization, and War

elective courses

What is militarism and where does it stem from? What does it mean when a state, society, institution, practice, person or a thing is militarized? How can we study militarism beyond macro-level indexes and explore its workings in our everyday civilian life?

The aim of the course is to introduce the interdisciplinary field of militarism studies which draws from sociology, IR, gender and cultural studies. The course will explore key concepts, tools and debates in the field to develop a critical curiosity about militarism as a dynamic social phenomenon embedded in state institutions, citizenship, gender, memory and culture. We will apply this critical curiosity to a number of contemporary case studies from the US and Europe. In particular, we will analyze how militarism transforms such civilian realms as national security, childhood education, police force, history and collective memory, fashion, entertainment, civil society/social movements, and gender politics.

What is militarism and where does it stem from? What does it mean for a state, society, institution, practice, person or a thing to be militarized? How can we study militarism beyond macro-level indexes and explore its workings in our everyday civilian life?

Militarism, as a social phenomenon, has enjoyed little popularity in international academia after the Cold War. Moreover, the concept has been subject to varying, context-specific and normative definitions which limited its analytical value. The aim of the course is to introduce the interdisciplinary field of militarism studies which draws from sociology, IR, gender and cultural studies. Understanding militarism in a broad, sociological sense as the “penetration of social relations in general by military relations” (Shaw 2013: 20), the course will provide evidence for the continued relevance of militarism for our contemporary societies, and equip students with a critical tool-kit for analyzing its workings in everyday life.

The course is divided into three segments. In the first part, we will explore key concepts, tools and debates in the field to develop a critical curiosity about militarism as a social phenomenon embedded in state institutions, citizenship, gender, memory and culture. In the second part of the course, we will look at historical transformations of warfare and militarism in the 20th and 21st century: the gradual waning of total warfare and classical militarism, the emergence of new forms of militarism in increasingly civilianized societies, and the ‘Transatlantic Divide’ between Europe and the United States with regards to military matters. In the third part of the course, we will apply this critical curiosity to a number of contemporary case studies from the US and Europe. In particular, we will analyze how militarism transforms such ‘civilian’ realms as national security, childhood education, police force, history and collective memory, fashion, entertainment, civil society and social movements, and gender politics.

Classes:

PART ONE: Definitions and tools

CLASS 1: Introduction to the course and its topic

CLASS 2: What is militarism and militarization? Concepts and definitions

CLASS 3: How to study militarism? 'Critical curiosity' as a tool

PART TWO: Historical forms and transformations

CLASS 4: Classical militarism: the era of total warfare

CLASS 5: After the Cold War. “Europeans are from Venus, Americans are from Mars”?

CLASS 6: New wars, new militarism(s)?

PART THREE: How do things become militarized? Case studies

CLASS 7: Gender relations

CLASS 8: Feminism(s) and women’s emancipation

CLASS 9: National security

CLASS 10: Childhood education

CLASS 11: Police force

CLASS 12: History and collective memory

CLASS 13: Fashion and consumer goods

CLASS 14: Social movements: the case of American militias

CLASS 15: Civil society: the case of Central European paramilitary revival

CLASS 16: Summary and conclusions. What is the future of militarism?

Core theoretical readings (selected):

Altınay, Ayşe Gül. 2019. “Undoing Academic Cultures of Militarism: Turkey and Beyond.” Current Anthropology 60 (S19): 15–25.

Basham, Victoria M., Aaron Belkin & Jess Gifkins. 2015. “What is Critical Military Studies?" Critical Military Studies, 1:1, 1-2.

Enloe, Cynthia. [2007] 2016. Globalization and Militarism. Feminists Make the Link. Second edition. Lanham: Rl.

Enloe, Cynthia. 2015. “The recruiter and the sceptic: a critical feminist approach to military studies”, Critical Military Studies, 1:1, 3-1.

Kaldor, Mary. 2007. New and Old Wars: Organized Violence in a Global Era. Stanford University Press.

Shaw, Martin. 1991. Post-Military Society: Militarism, Demilitarization, and War at the End of the Twentieth Century. Philadelphia: Temple University Press.

Shaw, Martin. 2006. “War and militarism”. In Encyclopedia of Social Theory, edited by Austin Harrington, Barbara L. Marshall, Hans-Peter Muller, and Hans-Peter Müller, 664-67. Psychology Press.

Sheehan, James J. 2008. Where Have All the Soldiers Gone? The Transformation of Modern Europe. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.

Full list of readings and texts (in PDF) will be e-mailed to students before the class.

Upon completing this course a student:

1. Knowledge

a) understands and defines the concepts of militarism, militarization and war, as well as critically evaluates their various definitions across historical periods and academic disciplines

b) has theoretical knowledge of main debates in militarism studies and recognizes most important theorists and standpoints in the field

c) knows methods and research tools used to study militarism

d) understands the role of militarism in contemporary American and European politics and society

e) recognizes and is able to explain the transformations of warfare and militarism across contemporary history

2. Skills

a) capably exercises ‘critical curiosity’ about militarism - has the ability to identify and characterize its different forms and dynamics in social life

b) has the ability to engage in discussions about national security, the military, and its place in the society

c) is able to distinguish between normative and analytical approaches to social phenomena

d) has improved skills in critically formulating and presenting theoretical-analytical arguments, as well as writing academic texts

3. Social Competences

a) is able to formulate an informed opinion and defend it in a debate

b) is open to different viewpoints on contentious issues and demonstrates respect for a pluralistic discussion

c) understands the importance of civilian oversight of the military realm for a more peaceful, democratic society

Assessment:

1. Regular attendance (two absences allowed) and active participation in discussions – 30%

2. In-class presentation of an academic paper (alone or in a team) – 30 %

3. Final paper (6-8 standard pages) – 40%

For the final paper, students are required to trace, discuss and analyze the process of militarization (or demilitarization) of a chosen phenomenon, institution or thing over time, using theoretical concepts and tools presented in class.