Journal of Political & Military Sociology
The Journal of Political & Military Sociology seeks high-quality articles that advance the study of political and military sociology through theoretical, methodological, and empirical research. We welcome submissions that explore interdisciplinary and comparative perspectives, addressing pressing issues in political and military social policy. The journal is particularly interested in papers that analyze topics such as civil-military relations, the sociology of armed conflict, defense and security policies, political institutions, governance, military culture, and the role of the military in shaping societal structures. We encourage research that examines these themes across diverse geopolitical contexts, including both Western and non-Western perspectives, and contributes to critical debates on contemporary global challenges.
Constructing Disability after the Great War: Blind Veterans in the Progressive Era by Evan P. Sullivan
Constructing Disability after the Great War: Blind Veterans in the Progressive Era by Evan P. Sullivan. University of Illinois Press, 2024 (192 pages).
Copyright (c) 2026 University of Florida Press
Upstart: How China became a Great Power by Oriana Skylar Mastro
Upstart: How China became a Great Power by Oriana Skylar Mastro. New York: Oxford University Press, 2024 (336 pages).
Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) in U.S. Security Cooperation edited by Susan Yoshihara
Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) in U.S. Security Cooperation edited by Susan Yoshihara. Lynne Rienner Publishers, 2025 (287 pages).
The Range of the River: A Riverine History of Empire across China, India, and Southeast Asia by Iftekhar Iqbal
The Range of the River: A Riverine History of Empire across China, India, and Southeast Asia by Iftekhar Iqbal. Stanford University Press, 2026 (272 pages).
Notes on contributors to volume 51, number `2 of the Journal of Political & Military Sociology.
Copyright (c) 2025 University of Florida Press
Review of: Dispossession: Anthropological Perspectives on Russia’s War Against Ukraine edited by Catherine Wanner. Routledge. 2024 Feminist Perspective on Russia’s War in Ukraine: Hear Our Voices edited by Maryna Shevtsova. Lexington Books. 2024 Night Train to Odesa: Covering the Human Cost of Russia’s War by Jen Stout. Polygon. 2024 Russia and Ukraine: Entangled Histories, Diverging States by Maria Popova and Oxana Shevel. Polity. 2024
Dispossession: Anthropological Perspectives on Russia’s War Against Ukraine
Feminist Perspective on Russia’s War in Ukraine: Hear Our Voices
Night Train to Odesa: Covering the Human Cost of Russia’s War
Russia and Ukraine: Entangled Histories, Diverging States
Civil Society as Arms Producer: Oxymoron or Reality?
This article explores how Ukraine’s civil society has taken on direct security functions during Russia’s full-scale invasion, with a particular focus on the production of weaponized drone technologies. Drawing on and grounded in the “everyday International Relations (IR)” framework, the article assembles a novel database of both for-profit and nonprofit drone manufacturers operating in Ukraine, while applying social-network analysis to trace their patterns of collaboration. The article asks why civilian actors assumed a role usually monopolized by the defense industry and how their micropolitical practices reshape Ukraine’s macro-level war efforts. The results reveal a hybridized field in which civic activists, start-ups, and established firms converge, consequently blurring the conventional boundary between market activity and grassroots activist mobilization in the pursuit of national defense imperatives. By illuminating how market logics and activist practices intertwine under conditions of existential threat, the study challenges the standard definition of civil society as a realm separate from the state, family, and market, thereby advancing scholarship on whole-of-society resilience during wartime exemplified by the production of weaponized drones.
“Now I Know What It Means to Be a Donbas Child’s Mother”
This article analyses media representations of Maria Lvova-Belova, Russia’s Commissioner for Children’s Rights, in light of the ICC arrest warrant issued for her and Vladimir Putin over the unlawful deportation of Ukrainian children. Using discourse analysis across Ukrainian, Russian, and selected Western (UK/US) media, it examines how gendered narratives shape understandings of female agency, political violence, and motherhood. Drawing on feminist and poststructuralist theories, the article explores how Lvova-Belova is framed differently across contexts: Ukrainian media depict her as a key perpetrator of a genocidal campaign, emphasizing her autonomy and casting her as a monstrous mother. Western outlets often downplay her role, portraying her as subordinate to Putin. Russian state media, meanwhile, presents her as a humanitarian saving orphaned children. These gendered framings reflect broader ideological divides and serve political ends. The article highlights how femininity and motherhood are strategically deployed to construct narratives of blame, innocence, or legitimacy during war.
Women’s Access to Professional Military Education
Establishing the policy of equal rights and opportunities in the military sector requires women to have better access to professional military education (PME); it also means developing PME to incorporate awareness of gender issues in the armed forces. Ukraine’s implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325, “Women, Peace, and Security,” provides women and men equal access to educational institutions at all levels in the security and defense sector and the inclusion of a gender component in education. Solving the issue of protecting military personnel from sexual harassment is another step on the path to creating a professional army. Education is an important factor as well, as it can raise the awareness in both men and women soldiers of the importance of gender equality and improve their ability to recognize sexual harassment, counteract it, and deal with its consequences. This study addresses the intersection of two sectors: education and the military. It is based on the results of a representative public opinion survey on women’s access to military education, an anonymous online survey, and secondary data analysis. It underlines the importance of a gender-sensitive approach to women’s access to PME, which itself plays an important role in the implementation of gender equality in the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), helping to break down stereotypes and biases that have historically limited women’s roles in the military.
This article explores how Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has influenced public attitudes toward gender roles, particularly in the context of (gendered) military duty. On the basis of analysis of representative national surveys of leading sociological centers in Ukraine and other data from open sources, the author explores whether there are signs of the militarization of Ukrainian society at the level of (gendered) sociocultural expectations, with an emphasis on public attitudes toward three issues: the military and its role in society including in postwar reconstruction; the roles of men during war; and the roles of women during war. The findings reveal a complex and often contradictory set of gendered attitudes. While legislative norms reinforce a binary of gender roles of men who are “defenders” and women “are defended”, societal attitudes are more fluid: many men resist the prescribed “defender” role, and women’s participation in the military is increasingly accepted. The article contributes to debates on militarization and gender equality by showing that, in the Ukrainian context, war has led to erosion of patriarchal gender norms at sociocultural level rather than to their reinforcement.
Ukrainian Society Responds to a Decade of Russia's War
This special issue presents an empirically driven analysis of Russia’s war against Ukraine from the perspective of Ukrainian scholars. Curated in response to the limited presence of Ukrainian voices in international academic discourse on the conflict, this collection focuses on the social, gendered, and lived realities of war. The issue also addresses the underrepresentation of women’s voices in war and conflict studies. Ukrainian women scholars are the authors or lead authors on all contributions to the issue, which explore critical themes including the impact of the war on gender roles, the rapid integration of women into the Ukrainian armed forces, gendered discourse surrounding war crimes, and the innovative role of civil society in defense. The issue also includes a review of recent books that offer insights on the war’s impact on Ukrainian society from sociocultural, anthropological, historical, and journalistic perspectives. Ultimately, this special issue offers readers a nuanced understanding of how Ukrainian society is navigating and being profoundly transformed by the war, affirming the vital importance of insider perspectives in comprehending modern war.
Military academies are central for the education, socialization, and disciplining of future officers. These sites teach officer students a way of acting and performing that is particular to military command culture, while also providing them with a sense of commitment to and belonging with the profession. This article is concerned with the process of joining military academies, and the socio professional and historical dynamics that are at play when individuals enter the specific role of the cadet. It studies the initial boarding school period in Swedish military academy by drawing on ethnographic work and archival material documenting the everyday life of Swedish cadets. The analysis is organized by Goffman’s theory of total institutions, focusing particularly on the role dispossession and “mortification of the self ” that occurs when new intakes enter such institutions and become treated as objects of people-work. The analysis finds that military academies stand in tension with how military education has been academized in recent years. Whereas the academic components of officer education seek to foster scholarly values such as progressiveness, independence, and plurality in knowledge production, the military academy rather struggles to preserve contrasting values such as military discipline and homogeneity, and to reproduce conservative officer ideals rooted in the institution’s aristocratic history.
Civil-Military Relations and National Security Governance in Africa
This article reconceptualizes civil-military relations in Africa through a systems-thinking framework to explain patterns of instability, intervention, and reform in security-sector governance. While classical theories illuminate professionalism and civilian control, they insufficiently capture the hybrid institutions, informal authority networks, and political economy dynamics shaping many postcolonial African countries, where formal structures intersect with patronage systems and elite bargaining. Drawing on systems concepts such as interdependence, feedback loops, and equifinality, the article presents civil-military relations in Africa as a complex adaptive system in which outcomes emerge from interactions across the political, economic, and societal spheres. Thus, coups and reforms are understood as products of systemic pressures rather than isolated events. Reinforcing feedback dynamics can entrench military dominance, whereas balancing mechanisms, such as institutional oversight and civic engagement, can strengthen democratic governance. The framework offers a dynamic approach to analyzing recurring instability and pathways toward accountable security governance.
The willingness among citizens to defend one’s country has long been seen as a cornerstone of the Swedish concept of “total defense” and has risen to broader prominence after the Ukrainian defense against the 2022 Russian invasion. Defense willingness is most commonly conceptualized as an attitude towards defending against an attack on one’s country. Despite its both old roots and new-found fame, theory, and measurements provided to capture this construct have been largely overlooked in the international scholarly community, with the bulk of debates having been internal to interested countries. This article empirically tests a recently proposed three-dimensional structure for the concept: a proposition that the overarching attitude can be divided into i) personal willingness (to defend one’s country), ii) collective willingness, and iii) supportive willingness (with underlying categories). Using two waves of Swedish survey data the article demonstrates that the theoretical three-dimensional structure proposed can be validated as fitting the empirical data decently, and that it is superior to other models tested. This model bodes well as a starting point for international research on this construct, although more work is required for a more satisfactory measurement, as are discussions on dimensional structure.
Military Culture in The Face of Socio-Cultural Change
If we understand military culture as the foundation of military relationships, reinforced by shared beliefs such as values, symbols, customs, rituals, and common rules through which soldiers identify with the organization’s identity, we can better appreciate its significance for both the military and the society it serves. The highest expression of such military culture is manifested in soldiers’ behavior during the execution of their most demanding tasks, including military operations, armed conflicts, and wars. This paper critically analyzes the role of military culture within the context of sociocultural change, using the Slovenian Armed Forces as a case study. The research findings highlight the need for continuous monitoring and adaptation of military culture in response to evolving sociocultural conditions—adaptations that must also be reflected in normative regulation. By codifying military culture through normative frameworks, the enforcement of established military rules is strengthened, thereby enhancing the functionality, predictability, and operational effectiveness of the military organization.
Notes on contributors to volume 51, number `1 of the Journal of Political & Military Sociology.
Non-Aligned Movement Summits: A History by Jovan Čavoški
Review of: Non-Aligned Movement Summits: A History by Jovan Čavoški. London: Bloomsbury Academic, 2022. (312 pages)
A Relational Ethics of Immigration: Hospitality and Hostile Environments by Dan Bulley
Review of: A Relational Ethics of Immigration: Hospitality and Hostile Environments by Dan Bulley. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2024. (193 pages)
Inclusion in the American Military: A Force for Diversity (2nd ed.) by Morten G. Ender, Ryan Kelty, David E. Rohall, and Michael D. Matthews.
Review of: Inclusion in the American Military: A Force for Diversity, 2nd edition, edited by Morten G. Ender, Ryan Kelty, David E. Rohall, and Michael D. Matthews. Lanham, MD: Lexington Books, 2023. (303 pages)
The Raj at War: A People's History of India's Second World War by Yasmin Khan
Review of: The Raj at War: A People’s History of India’s Second World War by Yasmin Khan. Haryana, India: Penguin Random House India, 2016. (432 pages)
This paper examines the attitudes of people in Germany toward the war in Ukraine, specifically exploring their support for punitive measures against Russia—or Russians—as a result of the conflict. It investigates whether these attitudes are influenced by trust in war-related information provided by the media, emotional responses, belief in a just world, authoritarian predispositions, and political orientation. An online survey was conducted in Germany, with participation from 457 individuals, most of whom were students. Key findings indicate that trust in German media significantly shapes punitive desires, emphasizing the critical role of media in conflict narratives. Emotions such as hate and grief are further predictors of punitive attitudes, highlighting the emotional dimensions influencing public opinion. Additionally, ideological factors such as authoritarian traits and political orientation contribute to these desires. The study’s findings underscore the complex interplay of media influence, emotions, and ideological beliefs in appraisal of international conflicts. Suggestions for future research include longitudinal studies to track evolving public sentiment and the development of refined measurement tools for ideological constructs. For policymakers, the findings suggest strategic media communication and efforts towards transparency and de-escalation as vital tools towards moderating public attitudes and fostering peace.
Security Sector Governance and Civil Oversight
Extensive military deployments during COVID-19 have raised concerns about executive over-reach, the impact on democratic and legal rights, and civilian control over the military. This study focused on the extent to which civil oversight was compromised in South Africa, the Philippines, and the United Kingdom. The findings revealed that in all three cases there were elevated levels of executive dominance, enabled by the securitization and militarization of the pandemic response. In terms of parliamentary oversight, all three countries initially fell short of ensuring robust oversight and accountability. This void was countered by other institutions, spheres of government, or civil society watchdogs, which reveals that several layers of oversight are required during times of crises. A key takeaway is that where oversight and accountability is weakened, the political power of the military can erode democratic quality. For this reason, institutions responsible for Security Sector Governance must be strengthened, especially in times of crises to avoid slippage and the erosion of fundamental rights of the citizenry.
Notes on contributors to JPMS Volume 50, Number 2 (Fall 2023).
Copyright (c) 2024 University of Florida Press
Always Faithful: A Story of the War in Afghanistan, the Fall of Kabul, and the Unshakable Bond between a Marine and an Interpreter by Major Tom Schueman and Zainullah Zaki
Review of: Always Faithful: A Story of the War in Afghanistan, the Fall of Kabul, and the Unshakable Bond between a Marine and an Interpreter by Major Tom Schueman and Zainullah Zaki, with Russell Worth Parker. New York: HarperCollins, 2022. (323 pages)
The Unknown Enemy: Counterinsurgency and the Illusion of Control by Christian Tripodi
Review of: The Unknown Enemy: Counterinsurgency and the Illusion of Control by Christian Tripodi. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2021. (300 pages)
How Civil Wars Start, and How to Stop Them by Barbara F. Walter
Review of: How Civil Wars Start, and How to Stop Them by Barbara F. Walter. New York: Crown, 2022. (320 pages)
How Civil Wars Start and How to Stop Them
Against All Tides: The Untold Story of the USS “Kitty Hawk” Race Riot by Marv Truhe
Review of: Against All Tides: The Untold Story of the USS “Kitty Hawk” Race Riot by Marv Truhe. Chicago: Chicago Review Press, 2023. (370 pages)
The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is not debt trap diplomacy; rather, it is an effort by China to coalesce and capitalize on the sentiments of its participants who have expressed concurrence with China’s view of international relations. At a time when the dominant international relations narrative is being challenged, specifically by China, the BRI has provided China with an opportunity to obtain affirmation for its foreign interests and principles. This claim is made evident by evaluating, as metrics of geopolitical influence, United Nations resolutions representing China’s interests and how BRI participant nations voted on them, as well as official BRI statements that these nations have made regarding China’s foreign policy stances.
geopolitics of China's Belt and Road Initiative
In 2013, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta removed the ban on women serving in combat roles in the US military. This policy decision effectively opened all positions in the military to women. Decades of scholarship inform us that military service leads to long-term socioeconomic benefits, but this research has focused on male veterans. This earning advantage holds true for all male veterans but is more significant for racial minority groups. As the original equal-pay institution, the military has long been an attractive option for women on their career path, and today female enlistment rates are rising faster than any other group. This study analyzes how military service affects women who elect to serve, across several economic and social variables, and how that has evolved for different cohorts of female service members. Conducting regression analysis on multiple census data sets, we find that women who join the military gain significant long-term socioeconomic benefits in comparison to their civilian counterparts, that military service affects social variables including marriage, and that these effects are stable over time.
In the wake of the War in Ukraine, the need for Armed Forces organizations to focus on recruitment and retainment and to attract, educate and maintain their future leaders has reentered the agenda. As organizational identification is known to strengthen retainment, this study examines antecedents of military identification, focusing on the role of intrinsic motivation and military socialization. Thus, through cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses of a unique dataset with Danish cadets, we show, first, a close link between intrinsic motivation and military identification. Second, while military socialization seems to play a role, we also find that the difference that can be ascribed to intrinsic motivation remains: Regardless of the method of analysis pursued, strongly motivated cadets just identify stronger with the military. These findings have obvious recruitment implementations and should also give rise to considerations regarding the Armed Forces’ prioritization of retainment initiatives.