Individual Bodies, Collective State Interests

Abstract

The primary question this article raises is how democratic societies, whose liberal values seem to contradict the coercive values of the military, persuade men to enlist and participate in fighting. The author argues that part of the answer lies in alternative interpretation of transformative bodily and emotional practices. Drawing on in-depth interviews with Israeli combat soldiers, the author claims that the warrior's bodily and emotional practices are constituted through two opposing discursive regimes: self-control and thrill. The nexus of these two themes promotes an individualized interpretation frame of militarized practices, which blurs the boundaries between choice and coercion, presents mandatory military service as a fulfilling self-actualization, and enables soldiers to ignore the political and moral meanings of their actions. Thus, the individualized body and emotion management of the combat soldier serves the symbolic and pragmatic interests of the state, as it reinforces the cooperation between hegemonic masculinity and Israeli militarism.

The “Bright” and “Shadow” Aspects of In Extremis Leadership

“…They looked after you when you were sick and you looked after them when they were sick.… there were times when certain illnesses like dysentery … where you didn't feel like eating and … you didn't want to eat so the mate was there to spoon feed you if necessary and that was very important. (AAW/W1) Camaraderie is embodied in the physical and emotional intimacy among combat warriors (Sasson-Levy, 2008); thus, close personal bonds may act as a shield to the intense psychological stress found in highly dangerous environments (Bourne, 1970;Spiegel, 1944). Additionally, mateship was central to building and maintaining trust, which is related to effective military leadership (Griffith, 1988;Siebold, 2007).…”

Gender and militaries: the importance of military masculinities for the conduct of state sanctioned violence

“…Women's bodies are also often regarded as weak, leaky and reproductively problematic (inter alia Theweleit, 1987;Miller, 1997;Van Creveld, 2000a;Czerwinski et al, 2001;Höpfl, 2003;Taber, 2005), reinforcing the idea that women are not naturally suited to military service whereas men are (Basham, 2013). Servicemen often perceive militaries 'as being in essence "macho" and physically demanding' and women as 'not strong enough physically or emotionally to do the job to the required standards' (Rutherford et al, 2006, p. 9; see also Taber, 2005;Sasson-Levy, 2008).…”

High School Graduation Ceremonies: Intergenerational Relations and Models of Social Order

“…The students deconstruct the image of the combatant as having a strong and disciplined body and as being in control of its impulses and emotions (Sasson-Levy 2008). The image that emerges from their performances is that of a soldier who controls neither his body nor his emotions.…”