SOCI 2160 Notes.docx
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SOCI 2160 CHAP 1 Classical Definitions of War Cicero: Definition: War is a “contention by force.” Issues: This definition is too simplistic; it lacks consideration of the motives, consequences, and political nature of war. Fuller Definition: Should include aspects like political objectives, ethica...
SOCI 2160 CHAP 1 Classical Definitions of War Cicero: Definition: War is a “contention by force.” Issues: This definition is too simplistic; it lacks consideration of the motives, consequences, and political nature of war. Fuller Definition: Should include aspects like political objectives, ethical considerations, and long-term impacts. Thomas Hobbes: Definition: War is a state of affairs that may exist even without ongoing operations. War Without Fighting: Suggests a psychological or political state of preparedness for war, like a cold war. Significance: Expands the definition of war beyond physical combat to include diplomatic and ideological conflicts. Carl von Clausewitz: Definition: War is the continuation of politics by other means. Limitations: Overlooks non-state conflicts, limited to a military perspective, and prioritizes combat. Expanded View: Include non-state actors, asymmetric warfare, and the role of non-military strategies. Sun Tzu: Focus: On conducting war, advocating for winning wars in a bloodless manner using various strategies. Contrast with Clausewitz: Emphasizes winning through strategy, intelligence, and minimal violence. Martin Shaw's Definition War as an act of force by an organized social power to compel an enemy to submit. Considerations: How this applies to irregular warfare and non-state actors. Sociological Approaches to War Inadequacy of Traditional Definitions: Need to account for social, historical, and technological changes. Sociological Perspective: War as a social problem influenced by cultural memory, technology, societal disruption, and public awareness. Viewing War as a Social Problem Cultural Memory: Influence of World Wars and the threat of nuclear/biological warfare. Technology: Impact of communication and transport tech on global war perception. Societal Disruption: Complications in modern societies due to war. Public Awareness: Increased due to higher education and living standards. Sociological Conditions During War Military Activity Public Opinion: Escalates from normal relations to hostility and threats. Abnormal Law: Surveillance, internment, and suspension of treaties. Political Integration: Increased state loyalty and censorship. Categories of Conflict Under International Law Civil War, Imperial War, International War. Insurrection, Colonial Revolt, Aggression. Mob Violence, Native Unrest, Intervention. Sociological Perspectives Quincy Wright: War as a condition of intensified military activity, psychological tension, legal power, and social integration. Douglas Fry: Violent group activity primarily to inflict injury or death. Contemporary Examples and Concepts Viktor Yanukovych, Vladimir Putin, and Crimea: Use of unmarked soldiers, humanitarian convoys. Hybrid War: Information, cyber war, economic pressure. Key Questions Answered Cicero's Definition: Lacks depth in understanding the political, social, and ethical dimensions of war. Hobbes' View on War Without Fighting: Implies a state of tension or readiness for war, encompassing diplomatic and ideological standoffs. Clausewitz's Limitations: Needs to consider non-state actors and less direct forms of conflict. Sun Tzu's Approach: Highlights the importance of strategy and minimal use of force. Sociological Perspective on War: Emphasizes the evolving nature of war in a modern context, accounting for social, technological, and cultural factors. These notes cover the key concepts, definitions, and sociological perspectives on war, along with answers to important questions raised in your study material. This comprehensive approach should aid in your understanding and preparation for your mid-term exam. CHAP 2 1. Millennial Challenges in the Military Article Overview: Discusses complaints about naval recruits, highlighting generational differences. Key Complaints & Questions: New recruits challenge traditions. Question: Necessity of unquestioning acceptance of tradition. Minimal effort in work. Question: Working conditions on ships. Demands for early promotions. Question: Is this a new trend? Questioning senior officers' authority. Question: Causes of this shift. Erosion of customs and courtesies. Question: Any positive outcomes? Bypassing the chain of command. Question: Practical reasons for direct communication. 2. Kill Ranges for Muskets (18th Century) Data: Effectiveness of muskets at various distances (100 to 600 paces). Implications: Understanding weapon efficiency and its impact on military strategies. 3. The Human Being as Killer Historical Perspectives & Questions: Roman soldiers' training preferences. Question: Why preference for stabbing over slashing? Civil War rifles loaded multiple times. Question: Reasons for this anomaly. Low firing rates among soldiers in WWII. Question: Interpretation of human nature in combat. Key Takeaway: Exploring the psychological and training aspects of soldiers' willingness to kill. 4. The Demands of Authority Factors Influencing a Soldier's Decision to Kill: Proximity to authority figures. Respect for the commanding officer. Intensity and clarity of killing orders. Legitimacy and legal sanction of the authority figure. 5. Group Absolution Group Dynamics Influencing Soldier Behavior: Peer pressure and unit bonding. Group anonymity in shared responsibility. Legitimacy and lawfulness of the military unit. 6. Physical Distance in Combat Impact of Distance on Decision to Kill: Long-range (bombing/artillery): Emotional detachment. Mid-range: Emotional shielding. Close-range: Immediate emotional consequences. Edged weapons range: Hesitation and moral conflict. 7. Social, Cultural, and Moral Distance Mechanisms for Overcoming Resistance to Kill: Cultural distance: Dehumanization of the enemy. Moral distance: Legitimizing the cause. Social distance: Separation of officers and recruits. 8. Nature of the Victim Rational Calculations in Combat: Relevance of combat strategies. Target prioritization for maximum impact. 9. Predisposition of the Killer Individual Factors Affecting Soldier's Propensity to Kill: Training evolution post-WWII. Impact of recent experiences (loss, revenge). Temperament and natural inclination towards violence. Questions to Consider: How have military training and soldier behavior evolved over time? What role do psychological, social, and moral factors play in a soldier's decision to engage in combat? How do cultural and generational changes impact military discipline and effectiveness? These notes cover the main topics and questions from the document. Ensure to review each section thoroughly and consider the broader implications of these factors in the context of military history and soldier psychology. CHAP 3 Elements of State Military Organization Sociological Perspective: The military is examined as an occupational group with its unique forms of organization, working routines, rituals, and informal cultural elements. It's important to note the change in the nature of work during peacetime vs. wartime. Unique Characteristics of Military Work: Military work has distinct characteristics that set it apart from other types of work. Study Questions: What are the unique characteristics of military work compared to other forms of work? Elements of Military Organization Communal Life: This aspect looks at the degree to which organizational control extends to personal life, with two extremes being institutional and occupational orientations. Hierarchy: The document discusses the nature of hierarchy in the military, distinguishing between machine hierarchy and professional bureaucracy. Discipline: Differentiates between formal discipline, focusing on outward trappings like salutes and uniforms, and functional discipline, which emphasizes self-steering through informal group norms. Study Questions: How do communal life, hierarchy, and discipline structures within the military influence its organization and culture? Developments in Western Military Organization This section discusses the shift towards more occupational orientation, smaller professional bureaucracies, and functional discipline in the context of modern non-traditional warfare. Study Questions: How have Western military organizations adapted to the demands of modern warfare? Becoming Part of Military Culture The document explores factors that determine how one fits into military culture and lifestyle, including natural identification, socialization, selective identification, and calculative identification. Study Questions: What factors influence an individual's integration into military culture and how do they manifest? Military Rituals Discusses various rituals like close order drill, parades, inspections, military etiquette, and language, which contribute to collective movement, obedience, group security, and solidarity. Study Questions: What role do military rituals play in shaping military culture and discipline? The Military and Masculinity The text delves into the reasons for associating masculinity with the military, discussing biological explanations and gendered social dynamics. It also explores key values of the warrior ethos and the sociological explanation for the link between masculinity and military life. Study Questions: How is masculinity intertwined with military life, and what are the biological and sociological explanations for this relationship? Military vs. Civilian Values Explores how military culture views civilian life during peacetime and wartime, discussing the identification of the civilian world as feminine and the implications of excluding women from the military. Study Questions: How do military and civilian values differ in times of peace and war, and what are the social implications of these differences? This comprehensive summary covers the major themes and questions raised in the "_State Army Slides" document and should serve as a robust resource for your mid-term study preparations. Top of Form Bottom of Form CHAP 4 Understanding the Battlefield Traditional View: Historically, battlefields were clear physical spaces where armies met to achieve political goals. Modern Shift: Post-WWI, there has been an increased focus on civilian populations alongside enemy armies, expanding the notion of the battlefield. Study Questions: How have traditional views of the battlefield evolved since WWI? What implications does the targeting of civilian populations have on the concept of a battlefield? The Expansion of Battlespaces Extensive Battlespaces: The advent of bomber aircraft and nuclear weapons expanded the battlefield to include civilian "home fronts" and eventually the entire planet. Guerilla Warfare and Terrorism: These tactics further blurred the lines between military and civilian spaces. Study Questions: How have advancements in military technology changed the scope of battlespaces? In what ways have guerilla warfare and terrorism contributed to the expansion of battlespaces? Intensification of Warfare Targeting Individuals: War has become more personal, with tactics like torture, medical experimentation, and psychological warfare targeting individual bodies and minds. Society as Battlefield: With increasing levels of warfare, violence infiltrates every aspect of social space. Study Questions: What does it mean to make battlespace 'intensive'? How does intensive warfare affect society and the individual? New Wars and the State Shift from State Conflict: Most modern conflicts are internal, occurring among rival groups within a country, leading to more limited and less extensive battlespaces. Globalized Network: Former rival states may become partners, and warfare often targets ethnic or religious groups to homogenize populations through violence. Study Questions: What characterizes 'New Wars' in the context of state and non-state actors? How does the globalized network impact the nature of modern wars? Mediaspace and War War and Media: In the West, media plays a significant role in constructing the reality of war and shaping attitudes toward it. Enemy Representation: The media utilizes pre-existing prejudices, stereotypes, and binary worldviews to portray the enemy. Study Questions: How does media representation affect public perception of war and the enemy? What are the mechanisms and purposes of representing the enemy in media? Global War System Characteristics 21st-Century War: Wars must be perceived as addressing threats to Western interests and must present limited risks to Western societies. War Management: Involvement in wars is carefully controlled, emphasizing quick resolution, minimal Western casualties, reliance on airpower, and efficient enemy targeting. Study Questions: What are the defining characteristics of the global war system in the 21st century? How do Western states manage their involvement in modern wars? Effects of War Imagery Violence in Media: American media is saturated with violence, which may desensitize the public to violent images and contribute to the perception that complex problems can be solved simply. Study Questions: How does the prevalence of war imagery in media affect societal attitudes towards violence and war? In what ways might war films influence public perceptions of the benefits and necessity of war? Reflection on the Global War System Effects of Battlespace and Media: The combination of changes in battlespace and media representation has shaped how wealthy states conduct war, with specific strategies for minimizing risks and controlling narratives. Study Questions: How do changes in battlespace concepts and media representation affect the conduct of war by wealthy states? These notes provide a comprehensive foundation to understand the evolution of the battlefield concept, the dynamics of modern warfare, and the influence of media on war perception. They are designed to provoke critical thought and provide a basis for a more in-depth study of the subjects covered in your midterm. CHAP 5 Civilians in War Degenerate War: This concept extends the definition of the enemy to include civilians, leading to an increase in the indiscriminate killing of non-combatants. Study Questions: What factors contribute to the degeneration of war and the targeting of civilians? How has the redefinition of 'enemy' to include society as a whole changed the nature of warfare? Factors Producing Degenerate War Technological Developments: Advances in technology have enabled broader targeting and destruction, impacting civilians significantly. Redefining the Enemy: The enemy is no longer limited to military personnel but encompasses society at large, including civilians. Study Questions: How have technological developments impacted the nature of warfare concerning civilian populations? In what ways does redefining the enemy impact both combatants and civilians? Survival Tips for Civilians in War Basic Survival Strategies: Tips include moving to safer areas, gathering information, self-defense training, and identifying escape routes. Resource Management: Emphasis on hoarding valuables, finding clean water, stockpiling food, and maintaining hygiene. Study Questions: What strategies can civilians employ for survival in war zones? How can civilians effectively manage resources during a conflict? Definition of a Civilian International Law Perspective: A civilian is defined as someone who is not a member of the armed forces, focusing on unarmed and non-combatant status. Ambiguities in Definition: Economic, military, social, and political ambiguities challenge the clear categorization of civilians. Study Questions: How does international law define a civilian? What are the ambiguities involved in defining a civilian in the context of war? Issues with the Definition of a Civilian Participation in Hostilities: The Geneva Conventions' Article 51 raises questions about what constitutes "hostilities" and when civilians lose their protected status. 'Revolving Door' of Civilians: The concept that civilian status can change based on participation in hostilities. Study Questions: What issues arise from the Geneva Conventions' definition of civilians in war zones? How does the concept of a 'revolving door' of civilians affect their protection under international law? Anti-Civilian Ideologies Spectrum of Ideologies: Ranges from genocidal logic to political pragmatism and moral reluctance. Motivations for Targeting Civilians: Includes dualistic thinking, power dominance, revenge, collective punishment, and pragmatic reasons. Study Questions: What are the different ideologies that justify the targeting of civilians in war? How do motivations for targeting civilians differ across ideological spectrums? Gendered Dimensions of Civilian Targeting Gendered Concept of Civilian Immunity: Women are often targeted as a means of attacking the opponent's will to fight. Wartime Rape and Female Victimhood: Seen as attacks on male enemies' property and pride, and as a means to assert masculine virility. Study Questions: How is the concept of civilian immunity gendered in the context of war? What role does targeting women play in the broader strategy of warfare? This summary provides a detailed overview of the key themes and questions arising from the "Civilian Slides" document, offering a solid foundation for your study preparations for the mid-term examination.
