Cultural Militarism

Although the classic definitions of militarism dealt mostly with the belligerent dimensions of aggression and control, directed outward or inward, current definitions emphasize the various cultural aspects of the phenomenon. These include ways in which civil societies undergoing processes of cultural militarism proclaim military values, such as hierarchy, obedience, and problem solving, through the exertion of power. Cultural militarism is expressed in these societies in the central role the military plays in the collective experience and identity. In such societies, the military serves as a central collective symbol, which is perceived as natural by the members of this society. This entry discusses the relationship between cultural militarism and military legitimacy, the social implications of that legitimacy, and the role of cultural militarism during crises.