Cultural Diversity in the Armed Forces: An International Comparison

This book focuses on how the cultural pluralism in 21st century societies affects the diversity of (post)modern armed forces. For a range of countries around the world, the issue is first and foremost conceptualized in terms of two variables: ethnicity and gender. In addition, partly depending on local circumstances and policies, other variables are addressed as well, especially language, religion and sexual orientation. While the heterogeneity of the national cases is conspicuous, the underlying problems and challenges are very similar indeed. The tension between military necessities and organizational effectiveness on the one hand, and political and social desiderata on the other hand, can be detected in all the countries under consideration. And nowhere the solutions are easy or painless. But then again, a representative military has always been a complicated, if not a paradoxical ideal, as is argued in the introductory chapter. At the same time, as is elaborated in the epilogue, multiculturalsociety, at best, very much is work in progress. This book will be of interest to students of military studies, sociology, gender and political science.