Military - Sociological Imagination - Lecture Slides, Slides of Sociology

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CHAPTER 18: THE MILITARY, WAR, AND TERRORISM docsity.com THE MILITARY Many Americans are involved with the military. – Three million are military personnel. – Veterans make up 13% of the U.S. population. 1 docsity.com Militarism 1 • Militarism—virtues, values, and ideals that exalt the armed forces • Militarism is promoted through – Toys and games – Films and TV – Holidays – Education – Interlocking directorates docsity.com The Military-Industrial Complex • An alliance between the federal government, the armed forces, and defense industries • First identified by President Eisenhower in 1961 • Scandals have involved bribery, kickbacks, and fraud. 1 docsity.com • Advantages of the complex include dual use technology—research and development that can benefit many people in their everyday lives. • Criticisms include enormous profits for defense industries and the close relationship between defense industries and government. 1 The Military-Industrial Complex docsity.com Discussion • Should women be allowed to pursue any job in the military? • Why do sexual assaults and harassment go unreported? 1 docsity.com 1 Social changes in the Military Minority Men in the Military – Minorities make up over 34% of enlisted males. – Minorities have served in every U.S. war, but discrimination was not banned until 1948. – Currently Latinos are heavily recruited. docsity.com • Gay Men and Lesbians in the Military – The "don't ask, don't tell" policy was a compromise allowing gays and lesbians to serve as long as they didn't disclose their sexual orientation. – An estimated 2.5% of active duty personnel are gay. – Americans are becoming increasingly accepting of gays in the military. 1 Social changes in the Military docsity.com Causes of War • Conquest, power, and wealth—fighting to obtain territories, slaves, and resources • Land and other natural resources—disputes over who owns what land • Self-defense and security— protection against current or future threats 2 docsity.com Causes • Nationalism, ideology, and politics Nationalism—beliefs and values that express love, pride, and identification with a national community • Racial, ethnic, and religious antagonisms 2 Ethnic cleansing—violence against a population that has a distinct history, customs, religious traditions, or other cultural traits. docsity.com Application Which of the identified causes of war fits the example? – In the early 1990s, Serb soldiers systematically killed, raped, and intimidated Bosnian Muslims to create Serb-only districts. – During the 4th century, the Huns invaded and lived off the countries they ravaged. docsity.com • Biological Costs – Defoliants create health problems. – Relocation of large segments of population cause increased risk of infections, epidemics, and inadequate diets. 2 The Social Cost of War docsity.com • Economic costs – Wars usually cost much more than originally estimated. – Direct costs depend on the length of the war and the number of troops. – Supplies are often wasted. 2 The Social Cost of War docsity.com • Environmental costs – Long-term effects include the destruction of land and resources. • Chemicals and unexploded ammunition • Destruction of canals and forests • Sewage-contaminated drinking water 2 The Social Cost of War docsity.com TERRORISM • Terrorism—the planned threat or use of violence, often against the civilian population, to achieve political or social ends, to intimidate opponents, or to publicize grievances. • Terrorist is a pejorative term with the interpretation differing according to side in the conflict. • Soft targets are civilians and other undefended groups. 3 docsity.com Types of Terrorism • Domestic terrorism: involves violent armed attacks against the people of one's own country. – Domestic terrorists usually disagree with mainstream values. – Terrorists are intolerant, rely on moral absolutes and broad conclusions. 3 docsity.com • International terrorism refers to politically- motivated violent armed attacks against people in another country. – Reasons for terrorism • Ideological—seeing Western nations as economically exploiting • Practical—believing that terrorism works • Tactical—terrorists communicate while living in various places • Historical—terrorism traditionally seen as effective 3 Types of Terrorism docsity.com How Common is Terrorism? • Terrorism has a long history, extending back to biblical times. • The State Department has identified 44 active foreign terrorist organizations. • Terrorist groups operate in at least 60 countries. • The number of terrorist attacks were highest in the 1980s. 3 docsity.com Terrorist Strategies • Weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) involve nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons. • Nuclear terrorism refers to weapons powered by atomic processes. – Nuclear proliferation refers to the ability of more nations to develop nuclear weapons. 3 docsity.com – Nuclear bombs can create massive destruction. – The components can stay active for thousands of years. – Nuclear arsenals are vulnerable to saboteurs, smugglers, and terrorists. 3 Terrorist Strategies docsity.com Causes of Terrorism • Economic reasons—Poverty increases the likelihood of terrorism, but the world's poorest countries have little terrorism. • Political reasons— Countries with a very high or very low degree of political rights experience much lower risks of terrorism than countries in the middle. 3 docsity.com • Religious reasons—Some terrorists argue that they are fighting for religious freedom. • Social, cultural, and personal reasons— Those who feel oppressed, desperate, or cheated and have no other way of fighting may resort to terrorism. Causes of Terrorism docsity.com SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES ON THE MILITARY, WAR, AND TERRORISM • The functionalist perspective considers the purposes of the military, war, and terrorism. – Get or regain freedom and autonomy – Increase employment and stimulate the economy – Inspire new inventions and technologies – Improve some groups' social mobility 4 docsity.com Symbolic Interactionist Perspective • Symbolic interactionists examine the cultural meaning and construction of war and terrorism as social artifacts. – Most countries denounce terrorism but legitimize war and conflict. – Phrases and symbols define war as acceptable, necessary, and heroic. – Language validates war and conflict. – Government controls our images of war. 4 docsity.com Discussion • How do symbols legitimize war? 4 docsity.com Application • Identify the theoretical perspective. – Soldiers in warring countries often rape civilian women. – Civilian deaths are referred to as "collateral damage." – Funneling money into defense industries means that social programs suffer. docsity.com