From seduction to separation… to reunion? How modern warfare has changed, and continues to change, the civilian’s relationship with the military (CMR).

The inciting incident for modern warfare is often attributed to the Crimean War[1], which accelerated Harvey’s time-space compression[2] with the invention of the telegraph, exacerbated by advancements in nuclear and cyber warfare, underscored by globalisation. These developments, alongside institutional failures, have heightened the moral ambiguities of war until it no longer “determine(s) who is right — only who is left.”[3] Consequently, it might be logical to assume that the modern civilian holds an anti-war stance, a sentiment frequently echoed in today's media since its Renaissance[4]. However, though war may no longer be naturalised[5], the modern civilian does not entirely oppose it. While the erosion of traditional methods that once strengthened civil-military relations, ('invisible communities,' nationalism, religion) along with technological advancements fostering greater awareness of the realities of war and its corruption, has strained CMR, the inundation of information dilutes these moral disagreements. Some desensitised individuals may adopt a more positive outlook on warfare and thereby the military due to moral distance, 'The Descent of Man'[6], and the search for meaning to replace its former placeholders, most notable and long withstanding of which had been religion. Meanwhile genuine activist efforts remain marginalised due to political apathy or punitive measures[7]. Thus, modern warfare has severed CMR. Although some can harbour an unconscious acceptance of war, this no longer stems from its naturalisation, but what we will refer to as its ‘normalisation’, where information moves fast, the world in its entirety moves fast, and as such, we are compelled to keep moving on.

A significant impact of modern warfare on CMR is the advancement of communication[8], defined through transmission or ritual. The former connects to Harvey’s time-space compression on the beginnings of a “voracious public appetite for the immediacy of telegraphed news”[9] developing into desensitisation. Whereas the latter foreshadows the erosion of invisible communities[10]. This transformation is exemplified by The Charge of the Light Brigade[11] and Enthusiasm of Paterfamilias[12], circulated by contemporary national news[13] to portray the shift from romanticising soldiers, figures of national heroism, to focus on war’s injustices. A gendered difference in this perception is also depicted in the women’s faces compared to the animated Paterfamilias, articulated in Perry’s ‘Descent of Man’[14] and supported by increasing disparities[15] in political views[16]. Consequently, military reverence has diminished overall, though associations of war with masculinity suggests male and female civilians will experience this separation differently.

Later advancements in communication would further civilian mistrust towards the military through biased war-reporting, for example, “show(ing) the Blitz… represented as indiscriminate terrorism against innocent civilians… by its ability to show the effects of bombing on the ground: the viewpoint was… those crouching beneath the bombs. But when the same newsreels covered the Allied bombing of German cities like Cologne or Hamburg, the reports were, of equal necessity, all from above: their viewpoint shared with the bombers… ‘Much damage of military importance was done.”[17] Similarly the BBC, due to government ties to Israel, reported Israelis being ‘killed’, ‘murdered’, even ‘brutally murdered’, while in comparison, Palestinians simply ‘died’[18]. Consequently, the commodification of news[19] and the alignment of military reporting with government agendas undermines public confidence in both institutions.

Further regarding authoritative mistrust, modern warfare, driven by technological advancements, has transformed CMR by heightening awareness of corruption and conditions of war. Additionally, these advancements have escalated the threat of destruction, shifting casualties from ‘distant’ soldiers to civilians. Examples include the development of nuclear warfare during the Cold War, which not only raised concerns about the longer-term magnitude of destruction but also its immediacy, as previously seen in the decimation of Hiroshima and Nagasaki[20]. Similarly, the War on Terror[21] intensified insecurities about the military's ability to protect its citizens due to the evolving nature of conflict.

Considering the insecurity exacerbated by time-space compression in modern warfare, which destabilises former institutions and heightens awareness of military errors, civilians are not only distrustful of, but even antagonised by, the military. Despite expectations that the military should prioritise its population's interests, historical events such as the Red Scare demonstrate otherwise[22]. Further instances of the military turning against its civilians have recurred throughout history, under the regimes of Pinochet, the Kim dynasty, Putin, and during the Tiananmen Square massacre, all cases in which the military acted as ‘key supporters’[23] for tyranny. Moreover, while the ruination of those returning from war could previously be obscured by victory[24], the Vietnam war was widely regarded as futile, subsequently exposing the ‘disregard’[25] of returning veterans as not much more than pawns, to much greater extents (even now, cases of soldiers being discharged without warning and facing structural unemployment[26] has only re-affirmed this view). Increasing awareness at the time could be seen in shifting media depictions of the cinematic protagonist from the archetypal hero to antiheroes, such as Randle McMurphy[27] or Travis Bickle[28], among others[29], all depicted returning veterans struggling to navigate post-war life due to flaws or obstacles prompted by the effects of war. Therefore, modern warfare has altered CMR through the increased awareness of corruption which has caused civilian distrust of the military, furthered by the growing threat of destruction through advancements in weaponry, and underscored by repeated instances of military aggression against its own civilians.

The civilian's disillusionment continues to persist into the 21st century, fuelled by the rapidly evolving nature of warfare. This evolution not only destabilises institutions, resulting in flawed or ineffective decision-making (for example, the increased urgency for cybersecurity[30] and its resulting insecurities[31], or the United Nations during the Rwandan and Bosnian Genocides[32]) but also necessitates a reassessment of the effectiveness of military strategy as a whole. The proliferation of advanced weaponry, exemplified by nuclear and cyber warfare, alongside increasing interconnectedness in trade and culture (diminishing nationalism and thereby posing a greater challenge in civilians to justify war through perceptions of ‘the other’) concludes that the prospect of a third world war would mean destruction of a magnitude that benefits no one. These escalating stakes underscore the need for preventive measures, notably soft diplomacy, which is increasingly supported by public opinion as evidenced in its calls for reduced military spending[33]. Thus, CMR has also diminished as the military is no longer viewed as advantageous as in former years, due to its post-war treatment of those who served, as well as changes in modern warfare that have emphasised an increasing urgency for preventative measures such as soft diplomacy over military strategy.

To conclude, modern warfare primarily altered CMR through advancements in communication that exposed corruption, and weaponry which has escalated the stakes of conflict, the increasingly connected landscape of which challenges the relevancy of military action when preventative measures are preferable. Moreover, gendered differences in attitudes towards war and the modern man's desire to achieve its re-glorification[34], prompt additional questions on the future of CMR. These emerging dynamics underscore the significance of addressing not only the immediate consequences of modern warfare, but its long-term ramifications. Perhaps, rather than attempting to ‘correct’ the public opinion of the military, as some recruitment services aim to do[35], the military should not only be concerned with war but more directly serve its civilians through the deployment of military services during natural disasters, rescue operations, medical assistance, food and humanitarian relief, as similarly to the way in which ‘manuscripts don’t burn’[36], neither do the events of history, despite attempts to ignore, rewrite or ‘correct’. Rather, the civilian’s distrust through time simply has to be acknowledged and the military must adapt accordingly.

[1] Claim supported by the start of the fourth paragraph in ‘The Crimean War’, National Park Service, 4th August 2022 <The Crimean War (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)> [accessed 18th March 2024]

[2] Concept explained in the abstract of Peter Kivisto, ‘Time-Space Compression’, Wiley Online Library, 29th February 2012 <https://doi.org/10.1002/9780470670590.wbeog557> [accessed 18th March 2024]

[3] Famous quote used to reflect modern views on war as explored by Mindscape, “War doesn’t determine who is right- only who is left, Medium, 4th October 2023 <“War doesnt determine who is right — only who is left” | by Mindscape | Medium> [accessed 18th March 2024]                              

[4] The Hollywood Renaissance faced the emergence of antiheroes over traditionally chivalrous protagonists, ‘the inverted John Wayne figure’, due to the disillusionment of former national heroism in the aftermath of the Vietnam War, Peter C. Rollins, ‘The Vietnam War: Perceptions Through Literature, Film, and Television’, The Johns Hopkins University Press, 36, No. 3 (1984) pp. 1,4, 8-9, doi: https://doi.org/10.2307/2712741

[5]This would explain previously passive acceptance of war, but through its falsification is no longer as relevant to explaining unconscious war-acceptance today, see 1:09 to 4:08 of Wisecrack, ‘Why Humanity Turns to War’, YouTube, 18th April 2022 <Why Humanity Turns to War - YouTube> [accessed 18th March 2024]

[6] Grayson Perry, The Descent of Man, Penguin books (2016)

[7] Despite peacefully protesting, activists still face the threat of violence enacted by authority and its military forces to limit the protester’s ability to enact change, ‘Protect the Protest’, Amnesty International, 2023¸<Right to protest - Amnesty International> [accessed 18th March 2024]

[8] In this lecture, two definitions of communication are explored and applied to the context of the Crimean war Dr Whyte, ‘Communication and War’, I.R.100/L02/01/W18: International Relations: Theory and Practice, Lancaster University (March 2023) see 27:52 to 30:35 I.R.100/L02/01/W18 (panopto.eu)

[9] Derek Gregory, “Deadly Embrace – War, distance and intimacy”, International Geographical Congress, (2012) p.2, Gregory - Deadly Embrace .pdf

[10] Loss of invisible communities through the telegraph’s invention and established beginnings of a slow decline in nationalism, Dr Whyte, ‘Communication and War’, see 33:20 to 34:50 I.R.100/L02/01/W18 (panopto.eu)

[11] Alfred Lord Tennyson, The Charge of the Light Brigade, The Examiner (1854)

[12] The man holds his stick as though he too were one of the soldiers, the soldier is gradually seen as an individual beyond its symbolism of national heroism, Enthusiasm of Paterfamilias, 1854, print, 5057x3741/18.1MB, John Leech Cartoons from Punch magazine | PUNCH Magazine Cartoon Archive

[13] BNA, ‘’Charge of the Light Cavalry Brigade – the Battle of Balaclava , 25 October 1854’, The British Newspaper Archive, 24th October 2013 <The British Newspaper Archive Blog ‘Charge of the Light Cavalry Brigade’ – the Battle of Balaclava, 25 October 1854 | The British Newspaper Archive Blog>

[14] Differing expectations and experiences of masculinity versus femininity lead to different views on war, with a sense of nostalgia and overall positive outlook for the modern man made more apparent than for women, ‘For many young men today, being a man is to be like one of those Japanese soldiers emerging from the jungle, still fighting after the war was long over… conditioned to be something that is no longer needed’, ‘national service was the last time we had a formalised coming-of-age ritual for young men… it was a time of re-parenting’, Grayson Perry, The Descent of Man, pp. 78, 87

[15] Dr Rosalind Shorrocks, ‘The gender divide in British politics’, UK in a Changing Europe, 8th March 2022 <The gender divide in British politics - UK in a changing Europe (ukandeu.ac.uk)> [accessed 18th March 2024]

[16] ‘The Growing Political Divide Between Young Men and Women’, Survey Centre on American Life, 31st May 2022 <The Growing Political Divide Between Young Men and Women - The Survey Center on American Life (americansurveycenter.org)> [accessed 18th March 2024]

[17] Gregory, “Deadly Embrace – War, distance and intimacy”, p.4

[18] Xander Elliards, ‘Study shows BBC bias in reporting on Palestinian and Israeli deaths, The National (9th January 2024) <Study shows BBC 'bias' in reporting on Palestinian and Israeli deaths | The National> [accessed 19th March 2023]

[19] Greg McLaughlin, ‘From Luckless Tribe to Wireless Tribe: The Impact of Media Technologies on War Reporting’, Pluto Press (2016) pp. 65-66, https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt19qgf0x.8

[20] Destruction of warfare and its increased proximity to the civilian despite them being at home, away from battlefields, and the impacts would run deeper than anticipated, Robert Rizzo, ‘The Psychological Illusions of Nuclear Warfare’, University of North Carolina Press, 33. No. 3, (1983) https://www.jstor.org/stable/24458674

[21] Every new conflict creates a level of uncertainty in the general public about the efficacy of its leaders, John Mueller, ‘PUBLIC OPINION ON WAR AND TERROR: MANIPULATED OR MANIPULATING?’, Cato Institute (2021) https://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep33745.5

[22] The Red Scare was also referred to as a period of mass hysteria, where the perceived threat of Communism was fearmongered by the government to target suspected (or simply labelled) individuals and maintain this oppression through militia, Stuart J. Foster, ‘Chapter 1: The Red Scare: Origins and Impact’, Peter Lang AG, 87, (2000) p.6 https://www.jstor.org/stable/42976159

[23] The role of the military as a key supporter for dictatorships, see 0:44 to 1:36 of CGP Grey, ‘Rules for Rulers’, YouTube, 24th October 2016, <The Rules for Rulers (youtube.com)> [accessed 18th March 2024]

[24] The aftermath of WW1 would have been afflicting; however, this is overshadowed by the war’s victory, and as such, anti-war sentiments are not yet as strong, Michael Roper, ‘Between Manliness and Masculinity: The “War Generation” and the Psychology of Fear in Britain, 1914–1950’, Cambridge University Press, 44, No.2, (2005) pg. 2, doi: https://doi-org.ezproxy.lancs.ac.uk/10.1086/427130

[25] Simon Hall, ‘The Response of the Moderate Wing of the Civil Rights Movement to the War in Vietnam’, Cambridge University Press, 46, No. 3, (2003) https://www.jstor.org/stable/3133567

[26] See abstract, Alair Maclean, ‘The Things They Carry: Combat, Disability, and Unemployment among U.S. Men’, American Sociological Review, 75, No. 4, (2010) The Things They Carry: Combat, Disability, and Unemployment among U.S. Men1 - Alair MacLean, 2010 (sagepub.com) [accessed 18th March 2023]

[27] Randle McMurphy: a war hero incriminated for insubordination, despite it saving lives. Continued challenges to authority lead to institutionalisation. The ward: a microcosm for fear-based oppression in McCarthyistic America. Most patients do not need to be there, but lack choice due to marginalisation for their differences (in thought, behaviour, or race). Randle is not a complete hero, as revealed in thoughts and actions towards women, but protects the rights of others. Ken Kesey, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Penguin Classics (2005)

[28] Travis Bickle: unable to reconnect with society after the war, he takes on superficially moral quests to feel re-purposed. First: assassination attempt of a President without much political knowledge or awareness of his policies. Then: kills the pimp of a young girl for news articles to shape him as a hero. Although last frames convey a lack of resolution and foreboding in this character. Paul Schrader, Taxi Driver, Faber and Faber (1990)

[29] Mario Puzo, The Godfather, G.P. Putnam and Sons (1967)

[30] Elaine Korzak, ‘UN GGE on Cybersecurity: The End of an Era?’, The Diplomat, 31st July 2017, <UN GGE on Cybersecurity: The End of an Era? – The Diplomat> [accessed 18th March 2024]

[31] ‘The Cyber Diplomacy Toolbox’, Diplomacy, 2023, <The EU Cyber Diplomacy Toolbox (cyber-diplomacy-toolbox.com)> [accessed 19th March 2024]

[32] Cooper Scherr, ‘Why the United Nations Cannot Stop Genocide’, Santa Clara University, 23, No.14, (2019) pp. 1-10 https://scholarcommons.scu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1171&context=historical-perspectives

[33] ‘Eight reasons why UK military spending shouldn’t be increased’, SGR, 10th March 2023, <Eight reasons why UK military spending shouldn’t be increased | SGR: Responsible Science> [accessed 19th March 2024]

[34] Searches of war edits would reveal a growing counterculture of young men romanticising war, Travis Grey, ‘Ukraine Will Be Russia’, YouTube, 26th February 2024, <UKRAINE WILL BE RUSSIA - Russian Army Edit | KSLV NOH - OVERRIDE (youtube.com)> [accessed 19th March 2024]

[35] For example, here it is assumed that there is something to be fixed in the newer generation, when the focus should be on reacting to former issues in the military that have led to the depreciation of its reputation, see timestamp as well as top comments, MSNBC, ‘U.S. Military faces a recruiting crisis; service member offers solutions to change that’, YouTube (8th September 2023) <U.S. Military faces a recruiting crisis; service member offers solutions to change that (youtube.com)>

[36]Mikhail Bulgakov, The Master and Margarita, YMCA Press (1967) Ch. 24

Bibliography

Alair Maclean, ‘The Things They Carry: Combat, Disability, and Unemployment among U.S. Men’, American Sociological Review (2010)

Alfred Lord Tennyson, The Charge of the Light Brigade, The Examiner (1854)

BNA,’ Charge of the Light Cavalry Brigade – the Battle of Balaclava, 25 October 1854’, The British Newspaper Archive (24th October 2013)

CGP Grey, ‘Rules for Rulers’, YouTube (24th October 2016)

Cooper Scherr, ‘Why the United Nations Cannot Stop Genocide’, Santa Clara University (2019)

Derek Gregory, “Deadly Embrace – War, distance and intimacy”, International Geographical Congress (2012)

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Enthusiasm of Paterfamilias (1854)

Grayson Perry, The Descent of Man, Penguin books (2016)

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Technologies on War Reporting’, Pluto Press (2016)

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Mario Puzo, The Godfather, G.P. Putnam and Sons (1967)

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Mikhail Bulgakov, The Master and Margarita, YMCA Press (1967)

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Paul Schrader, Taxi Driver, Faber and Faber (1990)

Peter C. Rollins, ‘The Vietnam War: Perceptions Through Literature, Film, and Television’, The Johns Hopkins University Press (1984)

Peter Kivisto, ‘Time-Space Compression’, Wiley Online Library (29th February 2012)

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Robert Rizzo, ‘The Psychological Illusions of Nuclear Warfare’, University of North Carolina Press (1983)

Simon Hall, ‘The Response of the Moderate Wing of the Civil Rights Movement to the War in Vietnam’, Cambridge University Press (2003)

Stuart J. Foster, ‘Chapter 1: The Red Scare: Origins and Impact’, Peter Lang AG (2000)

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