Bridging the Civil Military Gap Capitalizing on Crisis
Abstract
Researchers have identified a "civil-military gap," an observable cultural distinction between members of the American military and the civilian society from which they are recruited. This gap appears as a political gap, with an increasingly Republican identification of military elites and an experience gap with fewer of the electorate and elected government officials having military experience. When a crisis emerges, such as the September 11th attacks, the apparent outpouring of patriotism and media interest would indicate a desire by the civilian populous to draw closer to the military, creating an opportunity to close or at least narrow this gap. The media are a key player, as they serve as the most visible link between the military and the civilian society that it serves. This paper examines the nature of the civil-military gap, approaches for narrowing that gap, and how the increased interest evident during crisis can be used to implement those suggestions.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2002
- Accession Number
- ADA404432
Entities
People
- Judith K. Lemire
Organizations
- United States Army War College