The Role of Military History in the Contemporary Academy
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A Society for Military History White Paper A SocietyA Society for forMilitary Military History History White White Paper Paper TheThe Role Role ofThe of Military MilitaryRole of History MilitaryHistory in in Historythe the in the ContemporaryContemporaryContemporary Academy Academy Academy By By By TamiTami Davis Davis Biddle, Biddle, U.S.Tami U.S. Army Davis Army War Biddle, War College, College, U.S. and Army and War College, and RobertRobert M. Citino,M. Citino, UniversityRobert University M. of Citino,North of North Texas University Texas of North Texas The Tresorhe resort to wart to warsignalsT signalshe theresor failurethet to failure war of farsignals of morefar more the satisf failure satisfactoryactory of means far means more of settling satisfof settlingactory means of settling humanhuman conflicts. conflicts. It forces human It forces us conflicts. to us face to face and It andwrestleforces wrestle uswith to with facethe darkestthe and darkest wrestle corners corners with of the theof human thedarkest human corners of the human psyche.psyche. It signals It signals thepsyche. comingthe coming Itof signals trauma of trauma the and coming andsuffering suffering of— traumaoften—often intense and intense suffering and andprolonged— prolongedoften— intense— and prolonged— for individuals,for individuals, families familiesfor individuals,and andsocieties. societies. families War W-fightingar and-fighting societies. conc concentrates Wentratesar -powerfighting power in nonconc in -nonentrates- power in non- democraticdemocratic ways ways, infringesdemocratic, infringes upon upon wayscivil civil ,liberties, infringes liberties, and upon andconvulses civilconvulses liberties, political, political, and economic, convulses economic, and political, and economic, and socialsocial systems systems. From. Fromsocial the wreckagethe systems wreckage.— Fromthe— brokenthe the broken wreckage bodies, bodies, the— the rethe- drawnbroken re-drawn boundaries, bodies, boundaries, the the re - thedrawn boundaries, the imperfectimperfect treaties, treaties, theimperfect freshthe fresh resentments treaties, resentments theand fresh andthe intensifiedthe resentments intensified old and onesold theones— alteredintensified—altered political political old ones —altered political and andsocial social patterns patterns and andinstitutions institutions emerge emerge that thatmay may help help to prevent to prevent future future confl conflicts,icts, or or and social patterns and institutions emerge that may help to prevent future conflicts, or sowsow the seedsthe seeds of new of new ones ones. All. ofAll this of thiscreates creates a difficult, a difficult, compl complicated,icated, and andfraught fraught sow the seeds of new ones. All of this creates a difficult, complicated, and fraught historicalhistorical landscape landscape to traverse. to traverse. historical landscape to traverse. ThoughThough the studythe study of war of waris demanding, is demanding, both both intellectually intellectually and andemot emotionally,ionally, we we Though the study of war is demanding, both intellectually and emotionally, we cannotcannot afford afford to eschew to eschew or ignore or ignore it. Examiningit. Examining the originsthe origins of w ofars w informars informs us sabout us about cannot afford to eschew or ignore it. Examining the origins of wars informs us about humanhuman behavior behavior: the: waythe way that thatwe createwe create notions notions of identity, of identity, nationality nationality, and, andterritoriality; territoriality; human behavior: the way that we create notions of identity, nationality, and territoriality; the waythe way that thatwe processwe process and andfilter fil information;ter information; and andthe waythe way that thatwe elevatewe elevate fear fearand and the way that we process and filter information; and the way that we elevate fear and aggressionaggression over over reason. reason. Analyzing Analyzing the naturethe nature of war of warinforms informs us about us about the psychologythe psychology of of aggression over reason. Analyzing the nature of war informs us about the psychology of humanshumans under under stress: stress: the patternsthe patterns of communication of communication and andmiscommunication miscommunication within within and and humans under stress: the patterns of communication and miscommunication within and acrossacross groups groups; the; causesthe causes of escalation; of escalation; and andthe dynamicsthe dynamics of politica of political andl andsocial social behavior behavior across groups; the causes of escalation; and the dynamics of political and social behavior 1 1 1 SOCIETY FOR MILITARY HISTORY Gregory J. W. Urwin, President 5 Kings Cross Circle Gregory J. W. Urwin, President Doylestown, PA 18901 5 Kings Cross Circle 215-317-8564 Doylestown, PA 18901 [email protected] 215-317-8564 30 November 2014 [email protected] 30 November 2014 As president of the Society for Military History (SMH), I am pleased to present this white paper on “The Role of Military History in the Contemporary Academy.” As president of the Society for Military History (SMH), I am pleased to present this white paper on “The Role of Military History in the Contemporary Academy.” Co-authors Tami Davis Biddle of the U.S. Army War College and Robert M. Citino of the University of North TeXas provide a compelling chronicle of military history’s revitalization Co-authors Tami Davis Biddle of the U.S. Army War College and Robert M. Citino of over the past four decades and assess its current place in American higher education. In addition the University of North TeXas provide a compelling chronicle of military history’s revitalization to the sub-field’s maturation in academic terms, its enduring popularity with the public and over the past four decades and assess its current place in American higher education. In addition college students makes it an ideal lure for history departments concerned about course to the sub-field’s maturation in academic terms, its enduring popularity with the public and enrollments and the recruitment of majors and minors. Knowledge of the uses, abuses, and costs college students makes it an ideal lure for history departments concerned about course of war should also constitute a part of the education of future leaders in the world’s mightiest enrollments and the recruitment of majors and minors. Knowledge of the uses, abuses, and costs military power. of war should also constitute a part of the education of future leaders in the world’s mightiest military power. Founded in 1933, the Society for Military History (SMH) is devoted to advancing the study of past military affairs. Boasting an international membership of more than 2,700 civilian Founded in 1933, the Society for Military History (SMH) is devoted to advancing the academics, government historians, military personnel, and independent scholars, the SMH works study of past military affairs. Boasting an international membership of more than 2,700 civilian assiduously to bring military history to a broad audience both within and outside the academy. academics, government historians, military personnel, and independent scholars, the SMH works The Society proudly belongs to the American Council of Learned Societies, the National assiduously to bring military history to a broad audience both within and outside the academy. Humanities Alliance and the National Coalition for History and is expanding its role in the The Society proudly belongs to the American Council of Learned Societies, the National broader historical community through alliances with other professional organizations. Most Humanities Alliance and the National Coalition for History and is expanding its role in the recently, the SMH established an important partnership with the National Endowment for the broader historical community through alliances with other professional organizations. Most Humanities to create new learning and research opportunities for military historians. recently, the SMH established an important partnership with the National Endowment for the Humanities to create new learning and research opportunities for military historians. The SMH intends this white paper to generate a dialogue with history professors, college and university administrators, journalists, politicians, and citizens regarding the key role The SMH intends this white paper to generate a dialogue with history professors, the study of military history can play in deepening our understanding of the world we inhabit and college and university administrators, journalists, politicians, and citizens regarding the key role producing an informed citizenry. the study of military history can play in deepening our understanding of the world we inhabit and producing an informed citizenry. Sincerely, Sincerely, Gregory J.W. Urwin Gregory J.W. Urwin Questions about this white paper and the state of military history should be directed to: Dr. TamiQ Davisuestions Biddle about this white paper and the state of military history should be directed to: Department of National Security and Strategy USDr. ArmyTami DavisWar College, Biddle Carlisle, PA. [email protected] of National Security and Strategy 717US Army960-9849 War College, Carlisle, PA. [email protected] 717 960-9849 A Society for Military History White Paper The Role of Military History in the Contemporary Academy By Tami Davis Biddle, U.S. Army War College, and Robert M. Citino, University of North Texas