Support the Troops: Military Obligation, Gender, and the Making of Political Community

In the past, it was assumed that men would serve in the armed forces in wartime, but now liberal democratic states rely on small, all-volunteer militaries deployed in distant wars of choice. Katharine M. Millar's book "Support the Troops" provides an empirical overview of support the troops discourses in the US and UK during the early years of the global war on terror (2001-2010). She argues that changes in warfare are unsettling stable understandings of the relationship between military service, citizenship, and gender norms, leading to a sense of uneasiness about the meaning of being a good citizen, good person, and good man. Millar asserts that military support acts as a new form of military service, limiting anti-war dissent, naturalizing the violence of the transnational liberal order, and recasting war as an internal issue of solidarity and loyalty.

Format: Hardback
Length: 304 pages
Publication date: 21 December 2022
Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc

In the past, it was widely believed that men, as responsible citizens, had a duty to serve in the armed forces during times of war. However, the dynamics of warfare have undergone significant changes in modern times. Liberal democratic states now increasingly rely on small, all-volunteer militaries for deployment in distant wars of choice. While the number of individuals serving in the armed forces has decreased, our cultural narratives and myths about warfare continue to perpetuate a strong association between military service, citizenship, and normative masculinity.

In her book "In Support of the Troops," Katharine M. Millar offers an empirical analysis of support the troops discourses in the United States and the United Kingdom during the early years of the global war on terror (2001-2010). Millar argues that these discourses, which were once considered stable, are being challenged by the changing nature of warfare. The result is a sense of unease about the meaning of being a good citizen, a good person, and, most importantly, a good man in a context where war and military service do not easily align with existing cultural myths about wartime obligations and collective sacrifice.

Instead, we find ourselves engaging in the performance of supporting the troops, even when we oppose war. This act, which is perceived as both patriotic and moral, is also seen as apolitical. Failing to support the troops, either through active opposition or a lack of overt supportive actions, is perceived as not only offensive and inappropriate but also disloyal and dangerous. Millar asserts that military support serves as a new form of military service that aims to limit anti-war dissent, plays a crucial role in naturalizing the violence of the transnational liberal order, and recasts war as an internal issue of solidarity and loyalty.

Millar's work is rigorous and politically challenging, making it the first comprehensive study to examine support the troops discourses in a systematic manner. She delves into the historical, cultural, and social factors that contribute to the perpetuation of these discourses and explores their implications for citizenship, gender norms, and the nature of war. Through her analysis, Millar challenges us to reevaluate our assumptions about military service, citizenship, and masculinity and encourages us to consider alternative perspectives on these issues.

In conclusion, the past assumption that men had a duty to serve in the armed forces during times of war has given way. In the present, liberal democratic states increasingly rely on small, all-volunteer militaries for deployment in distant wars of choice. While the number of individuals serving in the armed forces has decreased, our cultural myths and narratives of warfare continue to perpetuate a strong association between military service, citizenship, and normative masculinity. Millar's book "In Support of the Troops" provides an empirical analysis of support the troops discourses and challenges us to reevaluate our assumptions about these issues. Through her rigorous and politically challenging work, Millar encourages us to consider alternative perspectives on military service, citizenship, and masculinity and promotes a more nuanced understanding of these complex topics.

Weight: 628g
Dimension: 163 x 242 x 28 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780197642337