Militär und Sozialwissenschaften/The Military and Social Research

This book is a comprehensive analysis of the various social science approaches to explaining and interpreting war, peace and the military. Its central aim is to trace and reconstruct those basic assumptions constructed and 'thought processes' undertaken by modern social sciences in their research and conceptualization of military violence and the use of force. In addition to such reconstruction, the aim is also to enquire into the preconditions of such thought. This study therefore eschews the development of an explicit 'strategy' (in the sense of a research strategy), but instead is much more concerned with thinking about its subject matter by means of re-thinking and reflecting upon different theoretical approaches and problems. The investigation includes a critical reexamination of the tradition of military-sociological research from the beginning of modern sociology to late-twentieth century theoretical approaches regarding the security-focused and/or war-driven aspects ofmodern society.

The volume presents analysis of conscription models in six European countries, four of which continuously kept conscription (Estonia, Finland, Norway, and Switzerland), and two re-established conscriptions in recent years (Lithuania and Sweden). The first part of the book provides a description of country-specific aspects related to conscription. The second part is dedicated for an in-depth analysis of the following topics: attitudes towards defence forces; adaptation to conditions during conscription; motivation to do initial military service; unit cohesion during conscription; leadership in the context of conscription; intentions to move from conscription to military professionals. Empirical data was collected in 2021-2022 by 8783 recruits. The book is an outstanding source of knowledge and a practical tool for conscription models suitable for the certain country. The volume is of interest to defence practitioners and policy makers, researchers, teachers and students who focus on military sociology and defence politics.

Der Band beleuchtet Konzepte und Methoden der Persönlichkeitsbildung im Militär. Beiträge aus verschiedenen Disziplinen der Geistes- und Gesellschaftswissenschaften bieten inspirierende Anregungen in der gegenwärtigen Diskussion um neue Formate der ethischen Bildung in der Bundeswehr und das soldatische Selbstverständnis. Vor dem Hintergrund der Inneren Führung und des Grundgesetzes müssen deutsche Soldatinnen und Soldaten gerade in Zeiten von über die Landesverteidigung hinausgehenden Einsätzen moralische Urteilskompetenz entwickeln, um Verantwortung für sich und andere übernehmen zu können.