Sociopolitical Sciences and International Military Affairs
The Tunnel of War and Peace
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Taylor & Francis Ltd
Publishing:30th Sep '25
£39.99
This title is due to be published on 30th September, and will be despatched as soon as possible.
This book examines the connection between sociology and international military affairs, by analysing the work of key social and political scientists in the field.
The book demonstrates the renewed relevance of older sociological concepts such as imitation, unanticipated consequences of policies, structural violence, the governance of the commons, collateral damage, McDonaldization, the Garrison State, and many others. It also proposes new notions, such as the dynamics of hostilization (as a twin-concept of criminalization) and security panic. The work illustrates these concepts through examples from today’s world – including Gaza, the war in Ukraine, conflicts in Africa, and riots in cities such as Amsterdam. It also uses material from conflicts and military actions in the recent past, such as in Rwanda, Bosnia and Afghanistan. The book is a companion volume to the author’s 2018 Sociology and Military Studies, which examined the link between sociology and the military by studying the work of key foundational thinkers in the field. As a follow-up, the present book presents 14 new authors from from the field from general sociology and political but takes a broader approach in terms of application, including the dynamics of politics, conflict, and war.
This book will be of great interest to students of the social and political sciences, military studies, civil-military relations, war and conflict studies, and International Relations in general.
‘I enjoyed reading this book. It is a sequel to the earlier Sociology and Military Studies, which had a similar formula that proved very successful. More than that other book, this one is not just about military sociology stricto sensu, but also about the broader field of conflict sociology. The book is a pleasure to read, each time providing an encounter with a well-known sociologist whose writings contain insights that turn out to be surprisingly relevant to this book’s subject. A treasure trove for students about to write a thesis.’
Abram de Swaan, Emeritus Distinguished Research Professor, University of Amsterdam
‘Following Soeters’s volumes on sociology and management in military contexts, this third work expands the analytical lens beyond the armed forces to encompass the broader dynamics of international conflict, revolution and peacebuilding. Soeters illuminates the continued relevance of general social theory to understanding contemporary warfare – from hybrid and cognitive operations to the erosion of democratic structures. This volume cements Soeters’s position as a leading voice in reimagining military sociology as a field deeply informed by the breadth and depth of the social sciences. Through his sustained intellectual endeavor, the field of military sociology has grown conceptually more ambitious and theoretically richer.’
Yagil Levy, Professor, Department of Sociology, Political Science & Communication Open University of Israel
‘This very timely and original book proposes using theories and ideas of 14 social and political scientists to help us understand why and how violent conflicts and wars erupt, develop and how they can end peacefully. It also analyzes the role and functioning of military organizations in these kinds of environments. People interested in making sense of contemporary violent events, such as in Ukraine and Gaza, will find the book particularly interesting and useful, and so will students and scholars in conflicts and military studies.’
Philippe Manigart, Professor Emeritus, Royal Military School, Brussels
ISBN: 9781032906249
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: unknown
280 pages