政治军事化是指文官系统背景下表现的军国思想,例如:美国总统林登·约翰逊宣布的反贫困战争(英语:War on Poverty),以及理查德·尼克松宣布的反毒品战争,大都是付诸言辞的论战。它们并不是针对具体可以击败的敌人,而是将某个目标比喻为“战争”,象征解决这个问题需要付出的牺牲。政治军事化也可能是巩固行政权力的一种手段,因为“战争”意味着行政部门可以拥有紧急权力,调度国家机器实施暴力行动,这些在平时是要经过立法机构做出决策。此外,政客还会通过在其他社会问题的口水战,或是政府在任命“特别工作组”解决紧迫的政治或社会问题时,也会利用军国主义塑造强势形象。
外交军事化倾向于使用军事方案解决外交关系,美国军队于二战结束后在美国外交政策及国家安全方面,一直发挥着重要作用。华盛顿邮报记者达娜·普里斯特(英语:Dana Priest)在其著作《美国军队的使命:发动战争以保卫和平》(The Mission: Waging War and Keeping Peace With America's Military)中,断言美国外交落后于军队,并且越来越依赖军队来管理其在世界舞台上的角色,声称“在比尔·克林顿总统的领导下,军队在没有公众监督与和辩论的情况,逐渐在资源和全球影响力方面,超越文职政府的领袖。”[2]
军队也是社会重组的一种手段,至少从法国大革命后的集体征兵(英语:levée en masse)开始,底层阶级已经可以通过军队获得更高的地位和流动性。此外,军官队伍开始向中产阶级开放,此前它只为贵族阶级保留。英国贵族的传统观念中,成为军官是“次子”的期望,因为他们不会获得家族继承权,选择成为军官的角色,被假定可以维持他们的贵族阶级。在美国服兵役的其中一个宣传观点,是让下层阶级可以接受难得的训练和经验,从而推动他们获得更高收入和社会地位;参军使许多社会经济地位较低的人,能够有机会接受大学教育和培训。此外,军队中的许多职位都涉及可转移技能(英语:Transferable skill),这些技能可以在士兵退役后,在常规劳动力市场上使用,例如:飞行员、空中交通管制员、机械师等。
^Hossein-Zadeh, Ismael. The political economy of U.S. militarism. Palgrave Macmillan. 2006.
^Kinsella, David. Anna Stavrianakis y Jan Selby , 编. The global arms trade and the diffusion of militarism. 2013: 104-116.
^McAlister, Elizabeth. The militarization of prayer in America: White and Native American spiritual warfare. Journal of Religious and Political Practice. 2016-01-02, 2 (1): 114–130. ISSN 2056-6093. doi:10.1080/20566093.2016.1085239.
^The flash from a flashbang grenade detonation momentarily activates all photoreceptor cells in the eye, making vision impossible for approximately five seconds, until the eye restores itself to its normal, unstimulated state. The loud blast is meant to cause temporary loss of hearing, and also disturbs the fluid in the ear, causing loss of balance. The concussive blast of the detonation can still injure, and the heat created can ignite flammable materials.
^Texas Rangers, Department of Public Safety, Branch Davidian Evidence (页面存档备份,存于互联网档案馆), Investigative Report No. 1, September 1999; Investigative Report No. 2, January 2000 (PDFs available at Texas Rangers website). The Rangers found that the FBI used grenade launchers to fire two 40 mm M651 grenades. The Army considers the M651 a pyrotechnic device and that it is known to cause fires. The Army Tech Manual for the M651 warns that it can penetrate 3/4" plywood at 200 meters and "projectile may explode upon target impact." During inventory of the Waco evidence the Texas Rangers also found flashbang grenades.
^James Joyner. Militarization of Police. Outside the Beltway. June 15, 2011 [2023-10-14]. (原始内容存档于2015-12-21).
^Plastic Bullet (页面存档备份,存于互联网档案馆) "A solid PVC cylinder, 10 cm long and 38 mm in diameter, fired by police or military forces to regain control in riots."
^e.g. the Geneva Protocol of 1925: 'Prohibited the use of "asphyxiating gas, or any other kind of gas, liquids, substances or similar materials"'
参考书目
Bond, Brian. War and Society in Europe, 1870-1970. McGill-Queen's University Press. 1985.ISBN0-7735-1763-4
Frevert, Ute. A Nation in Barracks: Modern Germany, Military Conscription and Civil Society. Berg. 2004.ISBN1-85973-886-9