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Article
Publication date: 7 October 2014

Mohammed Ishaq and Asifa Maaria Hussain

Focusing on some of the key strands of equality and diversity (E&D), the purpose of this paper is to highlight the progress made by armed forces in implementing the E&D agenda…

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Abstract

Purpose

Focusing on some of the key strands of equality and diversity (E&D), the purpose of this paper is to highlight the progress made by armed forces in implementing the E&D agenda, with specific focus on Anglophone countries and their allies. The research also looks at the obstacles encountered by managers and policymakers in attempting to establish effective diversity management in a traditionally highly conservative public sector institution.

Design/methodology/approach

Using an approach known as secondary analysis, there is an in-depth review of a wide range of data sources.

Findings

The analysis reveals that E&D issues in armed forces have been under researched and there is also unbalanced coverage and reporting of E&D across nations. There is also evidence of greater progress on diversity management in the armed forces of some countries but a distinct lack of progress in others. A combination of political, legal, economic and social influences are impinging on the culture of militaries. Whilst in the long-term these pressures are likely to result in armed forces becoming more reflective of developments in wider society, the road to achieving this is still fraught with uncertainty.

Originality/value

To increase the understanding of diversity management in public institutions characterised by an mono culture and traditionally associated with resistance to change, and establish the extent to which the legal, social justice and business cases for promoting E&D are wholly applicable to the armed forces.

Details

International Journal of Public Sector Management, vol. 27 no. 7
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0951-3558

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 18 May 2015

Michael Brzoska

– The paper aims to investigate the consequences of climate change for the future of armed forces and their presentation in national security documents.

Abstract

Purpose

The paper aims to investigate the consequences of climate change for the future of armed forces and their presentation in national security documents.

Design/methodology/approach

A classification of potential future military roles and functions is derived from relevant literature, resulting in six “military futures”. Frames are developed for these whose occurrence is counted in 53 authoritative documents on security policy and defense planning from 38 countries. Results are presented in descriptive statistics.

Findings

The paper demonstrates that climate change has become an important issue for military planning. However, the directions in which it takes thinking about the future of armed forces differ widely. Among the six “military futures” identified, those linked to the function of disaster relief are most frequently found. However, the expansion of traditional military roles is also promoted. Rarer are suggestions for armed forces to became “greener” or “leaner”. In general, climate change provides an additional justification for continuing established paths for military planning.

Originality/value

The paper makes two contributions to the existing literature. First, it provides a classification of potential future consequences of climate change for armed forces. Second, it empirically establishes, for a set of authoritative documents, the relative importance of differing expectation of the effects of climate change on the structure and functions of militaries.

Details

International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management, vol. 7 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1756-8692

Keywords

Book part
Publication date: 16 December 2009

Omar Gutiérrez

The evolution of military profession in Latin American countries has not been the subject of research as compared to civil–military relationships because of the political…

Abstract

The evolution of military profession in Latin American countries has not been the subject of research as compared to civil–military relationships because of the political intervention of the latter. Since the 1980s, with the restoration of democracy in countries of the Southern Cone, the design and management of defense is no more a monopoly of the armed forces, and they are now exposed to a wide range of influences. On the basis of the framework proposed by Moskos, Williams, and Segal in their book: The Postmodern Military: Armed Forces after the Cold War, where they argue the case of the United States of America as a paradigm of the military profession changes because of the postmodernism in industrialized countries, we pretend to make a comparative analysis of the changes or modernizations experienced by the military profession in Southern Cone's countries, mainly Argentina, Brazil, and Chile.

Details

Advances in Military Sociology: Essays in Honor of Charles C. Moskos
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-84855-893-9

Book part
Publication date: 29 November 2012

Tibor Szvircsev Tresch, Natalie Schwarz and Markus Williner

Purpose – The present study addresses: First, which traditions are currently lived in the Swiss Armed Forces? Second, which traditions are viewed in positive or negative terms and…

Abstract

Purpose – The present study addresses: First, which traditions are currently lived in the Swiss Armed Forces? Second, which traditions are viewed in positive or negative terms and why is this so? And finally, which traditions have disappeared and which are wished for?

Methodology/approach – Two separate surveys were conducted by the authors of this study in an attempt to answer these questions. For the first survey, qualitative interviews were conducted with 50 professional and militia military commanders in order to get the internal perspective. For the second survey, a representative sample of 1,200 Swiss voters was interviewed in an attempt to get the external perspective.

Findings – The main findings show that there are few formal traditions in the Swiss Armed Forces. The republican self-concept and the decentralized political system in Switzerland have significantly influenced the meaning of traditions and their practice. Moreover, traditions mainly serve to integrate cadres and soldiers into the military. The majority of traditions is informal or a combination of formal (top-down) and informal (bottom-up) traditions. Lost traditions not only fell victim to structural changes, but their purpose was also questioned by commanders. Two major military reforms as well as societal change are the main reasons for the disappearance of traditions in the Swiss Armed Forces. The results show a high degree of congruence with the qualitative survey. In short, the Swiss population generally views military traditions in favorable terms. In particular, it endorses traditions that serve to foster a sense of community and impart knowledge. However, traditions that stress manhood and bravery are strongly rejected.

Research limitations/implications – The approach could be applied to other cases. Case studies may be generalized in a conceptual sense.

Originality/value of paper – Case study with broader practical and research implications, invites international comparative research.

Details

New Wars, New Militaries, New Soldiers: Conflicts, the Armed Forces and the Soldierly Subject
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-78052-638-6

Keywords

Book part
Publication date: 25 November 2009

Tibor Szvircsev Tresch

Since the end of the Cold War, armed forces have been busier than ever before. This necessarily led to an increase in cooperation between national armed forces. It also produced…

Abstract

Since the end of the Cold War, armed forces have been busier than ever before. This necessarily led to an increase in cooperation between national armed forces. It also produced cultural and political challenges, which influence both the success and the effectiveness of military operations abroad.

In this respect, the views of military personnel regarding the advantages and pitfalls in multinational missions may be of interest to us. In an attempt to provide answers to these questions, nine high-ranking officers from European countries were interviewed during a course at the NATO Defense College in Rome in late January 2007.

Details

Advances in Military Sociology: Essays in Honor of Charles C. Moskos
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-84855-891-5

Article
Publication date: 14 June 2020

Rajwinder Kaur and Reena Shah

Drawing from the instrumental and symbolic framework for employer branding, this study aims to explore the perception of the current and potential employees for the Indian armed

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Abstract

Purpose

Drawing from the instrumental and symbolic framework for employer branding, this study aims to explore the perception of the current and potential employees for the Indian armed forces’ employer brand.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is conducted as a mixed-method approach in the form of qualitative and quantitative phases. In the qualitative phase, online reviews of current employees were collected from glassdoor.com and analysis was conducted. While in the quantitative phase, data were collected through questionnaire from 200 potential candidates who were interested in joining the armed forces.[AQ1] Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) for instrument validity and regression analysis, for finding significant factors, were used for data analysis.

Findings

The qualitative results indicate that the current employee's perception fits the instrumental and symbolic framework. Additionally, variables such as discrimination in positions, risk, stress, confidence and personality development were also identified. The CFA and regression analysis results were found to be significant on the instrumental dimensions – job security and task diversity and symbolic dimensions – competence.

Originality/value

The study emphasizes the important instrumental and symbolic attributes for both current and potential employees. Thus, the armed forces can use these as a base for strategy formulation regarding employer branding.

Details

European Journal of Training and Development, vol. 46 no. 9
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2046-9012

Keywords

Book part
Publication date: 19 September 2006

Larry W. Isaac and Daniel M. Harrison

In recent years, and especially with the war in Iraq, the U.S. military's reliance on private contractors as forces in the theater of war has grown and become increasingly clear…

Abstract

In recent years, and especially with the war in Iraq, the U.S. military's reliance on private contractors as forces in the theater of war has grown and become increasingly clear. We critically evaluate some of the best literature on the emergence of this phenomenon – especially Ken Silverstein's Private Warriors and P. W. Singer's Corporate Warriors: The Rise of the Privatized Military Industry – and find a neglect of the historical path-dependent character of the rise of the new corporate armed forces. In particular, we concentrate on American experience and two silences that are integral to understanding the path-dependent character of this process: (1) earlier historical reliance on private armed force to suppress the labor movement in America, the template for this new form of irregular armed force and (2) the ghost of Vietnam as a continuing political liability in the mobilization of sufficient troop levels under neo-imperialist aspirations and “the global war on terror,” as the main condition for the rise of the new private military form. Both elements suggest the theoretical importance of state strength/weakness in any explanation of private armed force. We discuss several important political implications of our findings.

Details

Globalization between the Cold War and Neo-Imperialism
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-84950-415-7

Book part
Publication date: 18 July 2007

Lindy Heinecken

In the post Cold War era, military organisations have grappled with the challenge of how to bridge the gap between their mandate, the demands placed upon them by the new security…

Abstract

In the post Cold War era, military organisations have grappled with the challenge of how to bridge the gap between their mandate, the demands placed upon them by the new security environment and other pressing political concerns. To reflect on this, this chapter examines the responses of officers and civilian students from 13 countries on a range of issues, namely how they perceive the use of armed forces in various missions, the priority assigned to these missions; the importance and mandate of international security organisations; the status of the military within society as their role becomes more international; and the willingness of citizens to serve in the armed forces, given that these missions are often abroad. Judging from the findings, it appears as if there are a number of critical concerns regarding the future role, functioning and character of military organisations, which may be attributed to the emergence of a civil–military gap in many societies.

Details

Cultural Differences between the Military and Parent Society in Democratic Countries
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-0-444-53024-0

Article
Publication date: 1 December 2002

Mohammed Ishaq and Asifa Hussain

The issue of recruiting ethnic minorities into Britain’s public sector institutions has become a highly political one in recent years. One of the institutions that has been at the…

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Abstract

The issue of recruiting ethnic minorities into Britain’s public sector institutions has become a highly political one in recent years. One of the institutions that has been at the forefront of the government’s initiatives has been the armed forces. Under the direction of the Ministry of Defence, the forces have made progress in courting ethnic minorities. However, the advances have been limited. In view of this, the forces have been very anxious to gauge the views of minority groups in order to identify and address current gaps in policy. This article reports the results of a survey which was aimed at eliciting the responses of ethnic minorities to issues such as: the desirability of a military career; the extent of a family tradition of military service; the degree of awareness of measures to attract minorities; and suggestions that would help to recruit more ethnic minorities. The responses generated will serve to indicate the extent to which a reassessment of current recruiting strategies is required.

Details

Personnel Review, vol. 31 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0048-3486

Keywords

Book part
Publication date: 18 January 2002

Abstract

Details

The Comparative Study of Conscription in the Armed Forces
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-0-76230-836-1

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