GPIS

Old Dominion University

College of Arts and Letters

Graduate Program in International Studies

Culture and Military Effectiveness: How Societal Traits Influence Battle Outcomes

Eric S. Fowler

ABSTRACT: What must states do to ensure victory on the field of battle? Conventional scholarship claims that a number of material, tactical, and institutional factors significantly affect a nation’s ability to generate combat power. Recent scholarship suggests that other factors, including levels of education, civil-military relations, and western culture also play an important role. This new line of logic is important, because these factors tend to be glaringly absent from rigorous concepts of military power. The principle finding of this study is that culture matters. It is admittedly complex, intangible, and difficult to count. Regardless, empirical evidence shows that culture manifests concrete effects in combat, at times determining battlefield outcomes. Culture’s absence from meaningful definitions of military power results in world leaders, military commanders, and learned scholars making important political, operational, and theoretical decisions with only partial information. Put plainly, decision-makers cannot accurately assess the martial capabilities of enemies, allies, or themselves without accounting for culture. This means national leaders very likely perceive threats where none exists and ignore threats that truly matter. Additionally, policy-makers likely rely on incapable allies and turn away competent help, wasting precious resources in the process. Lastly, leaders likely neglect opportunities to enhance the military power of each soldier through deliberate investment in their organizational culture.

COMMITTEE:

Dr. K. Gaubatz (Chair)

David C. Earnest. Ph.D.

Angela O’Mahoney, Ph.D.

DATE: February 17, 2016

TIME: 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon

LOCATION: Batten Arts and Letters 7009

Posted By: Margo Stambleck
Date: Mon Feb 08 13:11:05 EST 2016