Review article
Military Service – Factor of Improvement of Sociopolitical Status?
Petra KLARIĆ RODIK
Abstract
The article discusses the impact of military service on civil
rights and social status of women, ethnic/national minorities
and gays/lesbians. Military service is analysed in its two
principal aspects – organizational and cultural. First,
regarding the organizational dimension, the central issue is
the institution of military service. The issue of conscription is
closely connected to the concept of civil rights and duties,
and to citizenship status. This is most clearly expressed
through the idea of citizen-soldier. During history, joining the
army represented an opportunity for underprivileged
individuals to foster their socio-political status. Second,
traditional military norms and values, that is, military
(sub)culture, legitimizes or delegitimizes discriminatory praxes
towards "others". Contemporary armed forces are becoming
more inclusive and tolerant, and are adopting
antidiscriminatory policies and regulations. At the same time,
many of them are abolishing conscription or, others,
discussing the possibility of abolishment of conscription.
Military service has become an individual choice, and the
citizen-soldier concept became meaningless. Armed forces
ceased to be the platform for improvement of political rights
and social status.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
18072
URI
Publication date:
31.12.2005.
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