Armed Forces & Society

Armed Forces & Society
Title	Armed Forces & Society
Discipline	Political science; Sociology
Abbreviation	AFS
Publisher	SAGE Publications
Country	United States
History	1974–present
Frequency	Quarterly
Issn	0095-327X

Armed Forces & Society is a peer-reviewed academic journal specializing in the intersection of sociology, political science, and studies of civil-military relations. Launched in 1974 and published by SAGE Publications, the journal features research on personnel policy, military institutions, and the social impact of defense establishments across states such as the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Japan, India, and China. Contributors have included scholars affiliated with institutions like Harvard University, Oxford University, Princeton University, Stanford University, and London School of Economics.

Overview and Definitions

The journal defines its scope to include comparative studies involving actors such as the United States Department of Defense, British Ministry of Defence, NATO, United Nations, European Union, and regional bodies like the African Union and Association of Southeast Asian Nations. It publishes research on topics such as professionalization exemplified by figures like Samuel Huntington and Morris Janowitz, civil control debates influenced by events like the Vietnam War and the Iraq War, and institutional reforms following treaties such as the Treaty of Versailles and the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. The journal engages with methodologies from scholars associated with centers like the Belfer Center, Hoover Institution, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, and the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.

Historical Development and Evolution

Early volumes addressed post-World War II reconstruction, demobilization after the Korean War, and professional military education trends traced to institutions such as the United States Military Academy at West Point and the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. Cold War dynamics involving the Soviet Union, Warsaw Pact, NATO, and crises like the Cuban Missile Crisis shaped comparative research alongside decolonization and conflicts in Algeria, Vietnam, Indonesia, Kenya, and Israel–Palestine. Later scholarship examined transitions after the Yugoslav Wars, the Gulf War (1990–1991), responses to the September 11 attacks, and reforms prompted by the Arab Spring and interventions in Libya.

Civil-Military Relations

The journal foregrounds debates on constitutional frameworks such as those in the United States Constitution, Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany, and the Constitution of Japan; oversight mechanisms including Congressional oversight, Parliament of the United Kingdom committees, and judicial review in the International Court of Justice. Case studies cover coups in Chile (1973), Argentina (1976), Turkey (1980), and Egypt (2013), as well as civil oversight in stable democracies like Canada and Australia. Scholarship draws on theory from Huntington, Janowitz, Samuel P. Huntington, and empirical work on civil control during events such as the Falklands War, Soviet invasion of Afghanistan (1979–1989), and the Iraq insurgency.

Military Sociology and Culture

Articles explore unit cohesion seen in analyses of the U.S. Marine Corps, British Army, French Foreign Legion, and the People's Liberation Army; identity formation among groups such as Navy SEALs, Royal Air Force pilots, and IDF reservists; and veteran transitions studied in contexts like Veterans Affairs (United States), Royal British Legion, and Israeli Defense Forces programs. Cultural studies reference works and events such as Sun Tzu’s legacy, the influence of Clausewitz and the Civil-Military Relations literature, portrayals in films like Platoon and Full Metal Jacket, and commemorations such as Remembrance Day and Veterans Day.

Recruitment, Personnel, and Demographics

Research addresses conscription policies in countries like Israel, South Korea, Switzerland, and historical drafts such as the Selective Service Act in the United States; volunteer force transitions in United Kingdom and Germany; gender integration following rulings by bodies like the European Court of Human Rights and policy changes in the U.S. Department of Defense; and minority representation involving African American service members, Latino communities, and indigenous recruits in places like Australia and New Zealand. Studies analyze retention and readiness linked to institutions such as the Defense Health Agency, military academies, and personnel systems used by the Australian Defence Force and Indian Armed Forces.

Defense Policy, Governance, and Accountability

The journal examines procurement controversies involving firms like Lockheed Martin, BAE Systems, Rosoboronexport, and Thales Group; budgeting processes in legislatures such as the United States Congress and the Japanese Diet; compliance with international law including the Geneva Conventions, Rome Statute, and rulings of the International Criminal Court; and transparency initiatives tied to watchdogs like Transparency International and audits by institutions such as the Government Accountability Office. Policy debates include doctrines from the Nixon Doctrine, Reagan Doctrine, Bush Doctrine, and contemporary strategies like the Pivot to Asia and NATO Strategic Concept.

Impact on Society and Economy

Studies cover the social effects of demobilization after conflicts such as World War I, World War II, and the Bosnian War; economic impacts of defense spending in states like the United States, China, Russia, India, and Brazil; veteran welfare programs exemplified by agencies like the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Ministry of Defence (UK), and social services in Germany; and civil-military partnerships in disaster response seen in responses to Hurricane Katrina, the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, and pandemic deployments by armed forces during the COVID-19 pandemic. The journal also addresses transitional justice in cases such as South Africa’s post-apartheid processes and reintegration programs after conflicts in Colombia and Sierra Leone.

Category:Academic journals Category:Political science journals Category:Sociology journals