Anomic Behavior and the American Soldier: Problem or Prospect,
Abstract
Anomie is a social phenomenon heretofore largely ignored by the military. Large segments of the soldiery think they have been cut adrift by an institution unable to find itself. The result has been a hothouse effect in which the conditions that permit anomic behavior to thrive and grow have been fed. A partial solution to the problem is for the military to institute a range of both systemic and intellectual adjustments designed to deal with the effects of anomie. Systematically, the military should seek to de-regulate, to rationalize its established policies and programs, and to accept competence as an ethical imperative. Intellectually, the distinction between diversity and deviance must be recognized and dealt with, and the potential contributions of anomic behavior to creativity, change, and consensus acknowledged. Only in this manner can the military hope to achieve the sort of institutional vitality and enduring legitimacy that will carry it into the 21st century.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 16, 1982
- Accession Number
- ADP001592
Entities
People
- Gregory D. Foster