how, in military history, the Western countries focused on realizing efficiency, honesty, virility, modernity, and progress
The reading describes how, in military history, the Western countries focused on realizing efficiency, honesty, virility, modernity, and progress in addition to preferring manly combat. It also examines the factors that led to the reemergence of China as a military power across Asia after the Communist victory in the Chinese Civil War. Based on the Confucian system of ethics, China sought to distrust military men and the use of force aimed at establishing robust relations with neighbors like Japan. In simple terms, the main lesson learned here is that throughout history, China has entirely relied upon a system of static defense, as signified in the renowned Great Wall, the cultural seduction to wear down and ultimately defeat their enemies. This notion contrast with what has learned previously about the tenets of the military society whereby the military is considered as the prime root of war. In other words, military forces are responsible for fighting and serving the interests of the state.
On the other hand, the reading illustrates how, during the 19th century, European industrialists developed effective technologies to enhance communication, transportation, and war. These developments primarily help the Europeans to penetrate different regions around the world. Similarly, advances in weaponry allowed them to establish strong armies with an arsenal that was stronger than any other nation around the world. With strong military power, Europeans were able to impose colonial rule over other nations. The reading reflects tenets in modern society where we live and helps me understand how the military-bureaucratic systems have impacted modern society.
Rigid bureaucratic structures characterize some military elites around the world, and with their relative isolation from other social forces, modern military forces have embraced an intense conservative structure. This contrasts with military power during the 19th century, which relied on technology and advanced weaponry to expand the colonialist’s interests across the world. The reluctance and conservatism approach in the modern military ability to adapt to new changes in technology stems from the idea that the introduction of new weapon systems necessitates internal social changes in aspects like command structure, battlefield tactics, troop structures as well as training. Similarly, another factor that contributes to conservatism in the military is that modern military forces engage war for a small fraction of time, and upon realizing the primary objectives of the warm, they terminate.
The reading impacts me personally in my military role. I have developed an interest in learning more about how technology and civilian bureaucracy affects the structure of the modern military organization and modern warfare. Even though military forces around the world have remained repressive and conservative throughout history, the increasing technological context of contemporary warfare has shaped the internal dynamics of most military societies. As a military officer, this has necessitated me to adjust my understanding of warfare towards encouraging military troops that are structured around systems of modern technology. For example, for every fighter pilot, there are additional ten or twenty personnel who plan logistics and provide the pilots with maintenance. On the other hand, the reading has changed my perspective of military structure towards a civilian bureaucracy that stems from the military personnel who refuse to be submissive. Consequently, I have learned that the refusal to be submissive throughout history originated from traditional social structures that fostered submissive and authoritarian attitudes. These social structures comprise of an authoritarian employment situation, the church as well as the patriarchal family.