Post-military Society: Militarism, Demilitarization and War at the End of the Twentieth Century - Softcover

The Gulf War appears to have dashed the hopes of many for a more peaceful international order. In this book however, Martin Shaw argues that, despite the war, militarism is in decisive retreat. Demilitarization, which has already gone a long way in Western societies, is now sweeping the Soviet Union and Eastern Union and Eastern Europe and may well progress further. Because of this, the social institutions of the Cold War, especially conscription in continental Europe, are being brought into question, and there is a real prospect of "post-military citizenship" in the industrial societies of the 21st century. The book includes a full discussion of the main sociological perspectives on militarism and "armament culture", together with detailed information on the "world military order". There are examinations of recent development in Europe and of Third World wars and militarism. It concludes with a discussion of the implications of the Gulf War.