The Evolving Domestic Forum for National Security Debates
Abstract
In this article, the author emphasizes the probable impacts of change in American social and cultural contexts, which necessarily overlap the areas of politics, economics, foreign relations, and national security affairs. He sets forth a few deliberately provocative questions whose relevance should emerge during the course of the discussion: (1) In an age of mass media and mass opinion, are we more, or less, vulnerable to prevailing "wisdom" that is sometimes inaccurate and misleading?; (2) Can a community preserve its integrity if individual conscience is accorded a priority overriding all other considerations?; (3) Which value, achievement or equality, will contribute most to the realization of social cohesion in future society?; (4) If America must eventually fight a particular war, is it more desirable to fight it, if possible, on foreign soil, or to wait and fight it on American soil?; (5) Is the prevailing attitude of Americans really biased against the military, or is that a recurrent myth which certain writers keep telling us is so?; (6) or Samuel Huntington's question: "How can a liberal society provide for its military security when this requires the maintenance of professional military forces and institutions fundamentally at odds with liberalism?" These and many other questions suggest themselves as being invested with increased significance in the modern context of military affairs. Answers to these questions are, as usual in dynamic times, not clear.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1974
- Accession Number
- ADA511035
Entities
People
- Anthony L. Wermuth
Organizations
- United States Army War College