Sociology

Military sociology is the study of armed forces through the application of sociological concepts. It is the scientific analysis of the military institution as it functions independently as a self-contained organizational entity, or as it relates to the broader society. Research in the area of military sociology is extensive, cumulative, and often interdisciplinary, drawing from subjects such as psychology, history, political science, and economics. This entry discusses the beginning of this relatively new subfield of sociology, examines some of the topics recently investigated by military sociologists, and ends by projecting future directions in the field. Surely, the literature in military sociology is far too vast to mention all the major works. Still, a few of the leading works in the field are highlighted below.