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CORE ISSUES AND THEORY IN MILITARY SOCIOLOGY1
The military has been a fertile source of data to address broad sociological theories and problems that cut across several areas of inquiry. Research on the military has contributed to attitude research, small groups, race relations, social change, the family, professions, and political economy. However, missing is a generally accepted core to military sociology, ie., central issues and theory. This core must be identified and researched so that findings can be accumulated and the field can contribute fully to sociology. Candidate issue areas are: (a) the ethos of the military profession, (b) the military as an institution and organization, (c) civil-military relations, and (d) military relations with other governmental agencies and militaries. These issue areas require clarification and more articulated theories that are addressed by empirical research.
The purpose of this article is to push towards a theoretical and issue-driven center for the sub-field of military sociology. The fear is that without such a center, the sub-field will dissipate when its current leaders retire, as less funding and recognition are available, and as fewer and fewer sociologists have enough experience with the military to adequately define the scope of pertinent research. The importance of maintaining a thriving sub-field of military sociology is due to the centrality of the military to any society and that society's long-term viability and to the unique characteristics of the military derived from its function and technology. In short, the scientific study of society, i.e., sociology, would be grossly incomplete without incorporating the study of the military. The definition of the military in this article is a formally organized entity or set of entities responsive to the governmental leaders heading a nation state (or equivalent government) and whose functions concern the use of arms to defend that nation state or to further its policies in its relations with other nation states or large collective entities. Included in the definition would be (in the United States) Reserve and National Guard Components, the Coast Guard, international military coalitions and task forces such as NATO and United Nations commands, independent support organizations such as the Association of the U.S. Army, and military veterans associations. Not within the scope, but not irrelevant, are other organized entities,...