Introduction to the Special Issue on Military Sociology: Distinctions and dynamics between military and civilian spheres

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">This article focuses on military role identity by assessing the relations between demographic variables and warrior and peacekeeper role identities and by examining the potential influence of these role identities on self-esteem, organizational commitment and organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) in a cross-national sample. A questionnaire was distributed to military members in four participating countries: Belgium, Estonia, Canada and the Netherlands (<italic>n</italic> = 831). The findings show that demographic variables (i.e., age, gender, marital status and unit) are related to military role identity, and that military role identity predicts self-esteem, organizational commitment and OCB. In particular, multiple regression analyses demonstrate that peacekeeper role identity predicts self-esteem, organizational commitment and OCB, whereas warrior role identity only predicts organizational commitment and OCB, and further, that peacekeeper role identity is a stronger predictor of the outcome variables measured. The theoretical and practical implications, including providing commanders with information to assess their units’ mindsets, and mechanisms to improve self-esteem, commitment, OCB, are discussed. Finally, the limitations of this study and its potential for future research are described.</abstract>

Warrior and peacekeeper role identities: associations with self-esteem, organizational commitment and organizational citizenship behavior

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The article analyses how the boundaries of postmodern military organizations are changing and how these evolutions affect their relations with the civilian society. The case of the Belgian Defence and the deployment of its military personnel in the streets are used as a case study to illustrate this transformation. Since January 2015, in response to the imminent terrorist threat in Belgium, military units have been deployed in support of the police to monitor sensitive areas, guard buildings and patrol the streets. The article analyses, first, how the population reacted to these new “proximity” roles and, second, the impact of these homeland deployments on the expeditionary readiness of the Belgian Defence and its capacity to carry out its primary missions.The empirical analyses are, based on several quantitative and qualitative surveys, carried out among the Belgian population and the personnel of the Belgian Defence. In particular, the impact of the evolution of the public’s support over time on the blurring of the traditional roles of the military and the use of the military for internal security tasks is analysed.</abstract>

Boots on the streets: a “policization” of the armed forces as the new normal?

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Defence organisations are unique in that they comprise integrated military and civilian personnel working in partnership with each other (e.g., in headquarters, on bases, on missions, in academic settings). Many defence civilians are supervised by military supervisors and managers, while others are themselves responsible for managing military personnel. At the same time, despite often high levels of partnership and integration, military and civilian personnel are governed by very different personnel management systems, and have distinct cultures. These factors can affect the nature and quality of the collaboration and influence personnel outcomes and organisational effectiveness. Indeed, defence organisations are increasingly recognizing the importance of optimizing integration between their military and civilian workforces, with many adopting organisational terms implying that the military and civilian workforces form a cohesive whole: the <italic>Defence Team</italic> (Canada), the <italic>Whole Force Concept</italic> (United Kingdom), <italic>One Defence Team</italic> (Sweden), and <italic>Total Defence Workforce</italic> (New Zealand).This paper presents results from the Military–Civilian Personnel Survey (MCPS), which was administered in 11 nations as part of a NATO Research Task Group on the topic of military-civilian personnel collaboration and integration (NATO STO HFM RTG-226). This survey was the first systematic examination of large samples of military and civilian respondents, and the first to examine military–civilian relations from the perspective of both military and civilian personnel. The results presented here are based on three open-ended questions included in the survey, which asked respondents to identify 1) the most important factors for establishing and maintaining positive military-civilian personnel work culture and relations, 2) the challenges of working in a military-civilian environment, and 3) the main advantages of working in a military-civilian environment. Results of 5 nations, including Canada, Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden, and the United Kingdom (<italic>n</italic> =1,513 military respondents and <italic>n</italic> = 2,099 defence civilians) are presented. Results indicate that mixed military-civilian work environments present both unique challenges and advantages, and identified the factors considered to be important for enhancing integration and collaboration between military and civilian personnel. Given that many cross-national patterns emerged, these findings provide useful insights for enhancing military and civilian personnel integration and collaboration across nations.*Adapted from the material first reported in Goldenberg, I. &amp; Febbraro, A.R. (2018; in publication). <italic>Civilian and Military Personnel Integration and Collaboration in Defence Organizations</italic>. NATO Science and Technology Organization Technical Report - STO-TR-HFM-226. DOI 10.14339/STO-TR-HFM-226. ISBN: ISBN 978-92-837-2092-8.</abstract>

Integrated defence workforces: Challenges and enablers of military–civilian personnel collaboration

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">While studying citizen-soldiers, their dual identity as a soldier and a civilian have been highlighted. A citizen-soldier’s role is linked to citizenship and its obligation. The dual identity or critical voices of conscription or reserve forces have neither been recognized in research nor been debated publicly in Finland. The aim of this article is to analyse the reasons why some conscripts raise critical voices concerning their relationship with conscription and their role as reservists. The study is based on the interviews of 38 non-military service men and 33 men who resigned from the reserve in 2017. The data was analysed using content analysis. According to the results, the main problems with regard to conscription and armed defence, among the conscripts, relate to inequality of the conscription system, obligation to serve and lack of discretion. For individual conscripts as citizen-soldiers, the problem of killing has special weight when they reflect upon their own role in the possible act of war. Conscripts and their expertise could be used more extensively in a wider range of security-related issues than in armed defence alone.</abstract>

Saying no to military service – obligation, killing and inequality as experienced problems in conscription-based military in Finland

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Journal of Military Studies

 The Journal of Military Studies (JMS) is a peer-reviewed multidisciplinary journal publishing original research articles in selected areas of military studies. Distinguishing from most other peer-reviewed journals, JMS’s approach is more military oriented focusing on technology management and exploitation, technological choices and requirements, tactical considerations etc. giving support to Battle Field Analysts as well as Academic Officer Education.  The journal publishes articles from the following areas of military studies:   operational art and tactics,  military technology and operational analysis,  weaponization of new technologies,  robotics, hypersonics, cyber, artificial intelligence and quantum,  capabilities e.g. defence inventory and acquisition,  military strategy and international politics,  military pedagogy,  military social sciences, like human factors,  military leadership and organisation,  military history,  arctic warfare,  any other area of warfare if well justified.   The journal publishes peer-reviewed academic-level articles, which are first published electronic form, and are printed in a series of volumes according to separate schedule. In addition extended versions of conference papers may be considered for publication. The journal does not publish surveys, tutorials or other articles without new scientific contribution.  The articles are subjected to a double-blind review and any suggestions or criticism is strictly constructive so as to benefit the author and assist them in improving their work.  The journal does not have article processing charges (APCs) nor article submission charges.  Rejection Rate:   50%   Archiving  Sciendo archives the contents of this journal in Portico - digital long-term preservation service of scholarly books, journals and collections.  Plagiarism Policy  The editorial board is participating in a growing community of Similarity Check System's users in order to ensure that the content published is original and trustworthy. Similarity Check is a medium that allows for comprehensive manuscripts screening, aimed to eliminate plagiarism and provide a high standard and quality peer-review process. 

Journal of Military Studies

Volume 8 (2019): Issue 2019 (December 2019)

Editorial

Introduction to the Special Issue on Military Sociology: Distinctions and dynamics between military and civilian spheres

Research Article

Warrior and peacekeeper role identities: associations with self-esteem, organizational commitment and organizational citizenship behavior

Boots on the streets: a “policization” of the armed forces as the new normal?

Integrated defence workforces: Challenges and enablers of military–civilian personnel collaboration

Saying no to military service – obligation, killing and inequality as experienced problems in conscription-based military in Finland

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