This course uses a sociological approach to the study of armed forces and their relation to society. This means we will use sociological theories, concepts and research to investigate the military as a social institution where people, other institutions, societies, and cultures intersect. These intersections and
the tensions and conflict that often arise from them are the basis of this course. This course will be run as a seminar; active participation in discussions (online, in writing and in class) is required and there will be a good deal of work involved in the course. Although the subject of the military is at the forefront of current events, this course examines past events and policies as well as current ones to help us understand the forces shaping the contemporary military. As a word of caution: the subject provokes deep-seated feelings, emotions and opinions. You must treat each other with
respect, civility and an open-minds. We will be engaging in serious scholarship, and any opinion you might hold (positive or negative) about the Iraq War, soldiers, military and/or foreign policy MUST be debated and discussed in relation to theories, concepts and evidence from academic sources. The
overarching goal of this course is that you gain a balanced understanding of the military in terms of who serves and why, under what conditions and with what consequence.