Tuesday, February 25, 2025 - 12:40 p.m. to 2 p.m.
Memorial Union Building Theater II
Ron Krebs
Distinguished
McKnight University Professor of Political Science, University of Minnesota
Around the globe, veneration of the military has been on the upswing in recent decades. Political and cultural elites have increasingly idealized soldiers and officers, portraying them as paragons of patriotism and good citizenship, as heroes who sacrifice for the common good, rather than as competent professionals. Public confidence in the armed forces has risen, new military-themed holidays are appearing on national calendars, and militaries are playing a more prominent role in the celebration of national independence days. This creeping, in some places exploding, militarism is puzzling, as its presumed sustaining forces have waned: warfare between industrialized nations has become rare, technological advances and democratic politics have replaced military men with machines, and mass armies have generally given way to volunteer, professional forces. Drawing on his ongoing book project, Prof. Ron Krebs explains why we are witnessing the proliferation of global militarism—and why it is worrisome for soldiers, national and international security, and democracy.
New Hampshire International Seminar (NHIS) - Spring 2025
