The head of the British Army, General Sir Patrick Saunders, recently expressed concern about the force’s poor recruitment.but as Jonathan Parry and Christina Easton They argue that there are deeper moral concerns regarding military conscription. Campaigns in schools, glorifying the military’s work in advertising, and raising funds primarily from socio-economically disadvantaged young people all point to the need for military reform.
Amid ongoing conflict and concern, british army There has been a lot of discussion lately about how the UK will conscript its military, as it continues to shrink before our eyes. Despite conversations about low number, Strategies to increase diversityand conscription, fundamental ethical issues remain largely untouched. We are well versed in debating the ethics of what a nation should be; use Their military, we tend not to think too much about how nations behave. create Their army to begin with.
in recent papers, we argue that the military is not just a job like any other job. In addition to physical and psychological risks, the military has unique dangers. morally dangerous occupation. Military personnel are at increased risk of being complicit in serious moral wrongdoing.as a general michael rose “There is no need for any other group in society to kill other human beings or explicitly sacrifice themselves for the sake of the state.”
As we reflect on our nation’s hiring practices, one of the questions we should ask is: How are recruiting operations being conducted? Expanding, concentrationand To distribute Moral risks within our communities.
In addition to being killed and injured, participating in war involves the destruction of homes and livelihoods, forcing people to flee their homes, and many other horrors. If the use of force is not justified, the participants in the use of force (even if innocent) are involved in the commission of a serious moral crime. And even if military operations are justified, participation still carries the risk of committing war crimes and causing unwarranted or unnecessary harm.
Committing an unjustified murder (or aiding someone else to commit it) not only leaves a deep mark on a person’s life, but often… psychological damage. If we care about others, we should care about whether their lives are tainted by wrongdoing. This includes avoiding exposing others to excessive moral risks and helping them cope with the risks they face.
As we reflect on our nation’s hiring practices, one of the questions we should ask is: How are recruiting operations being conducted? Expanding, concentrationand To distribute Moral risks within our communities. Of course, all forms of adoption involve moral risks. But British recruitment practices are particularly unpleasant in this regard.
The UK is an international outlier in terms of the youth of its recruits. A young person can join from his 16th birthday and can also register 5 months in advance. No other EU member state employs as many young people, and the UK is the only permanent member of NATO to do so. This has drawn significant criticism, including from government agencies. United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child. However, 23% of UK recruits in 2021/2022 volunteered before their 18th birthday (rising to 30% for the Army). Along with recruiting youth, the British Armed Forces is focusing on recruiting in the following areas: socio-economic poverty. Persons hired as minors: disproportionate enlistment from these areas.
The military also has a presence in schools through visits, job fairs, and provision of educational resources. These have been criticized for presenting a one-sided image of the military, emphasizing the positives while ignoring the physical, psychological and moral risks involved.
Young people are more likely to serve in combat missions, increasing the level of moral risk. They also have less ability to make moral decisions.their brains are still Development process It lasts until about age 25. The prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for long-term planning, assessing risk, regulating emotions and controlling impulsive behavior, develops significantly over the nearly ten years that British children are able to join the military. This unfinished process psychological development “Some adolescents are particularly vulnerable to making poor decisions.”
Socioeconomic disadvantage can also exacerbate moral risk. First, this demographic is more likely to have experienced adversity in childhood, research shows. make a decision It is based on emotional rather than rational reasons. Second, economic poverty itself can have negative effects on people. decision making. There is evidence that poverty has the following effects: “Mental Bandwidth Tax”, which has a negative impact on cognition and self-control. And third, socio-economic poverty is associated with educational and informational disadvantage. He was three-quarters of the young recruits evaluated in 2015. reading age 11 or less (some are as low as 5). Educational disadvantage is likely correlated with moral risk disadvantage. Let’s face it: If a new employee can’t read, it’s hard to assess an employer’s moral track record.
Concerns about moral risk also impact on the broader environment in which recruitment takes place. Candidates should have relevant information and critical thinking skills. But Britain falls short in getting young people to assess the moral risks of a military career.
One concern concerns the involvement of the military (and related industries) in education.The number of cadet corps has increased dramatically in recent years and now 500+ schools. The military also has a presence in schools through visits, job fairs, and provision of educational resources. These have been criticized for presenting a one-sided image of the military, emphasizing the positives while ignoring the physical, psychological and moral risks involved. One resource A (now defunct) letter sent to all schools in 2014 explained:military spirit” believes it is “a golden thread that exemplifies what is best about our country and helps improve everything it touches.”
Another concern stems from the growing calls for more patriotism and militarism in British education. For example, in 2012 the UK government launched an initiative to promote a military ethos in schools, fostering values of “teamwork, discipline and leadership” through military-led projects. From 2014 onwards, schools are required to promote: “British values”And there was a political motive to teach children: “I am proud” of their history.
Whatever benefits these proposals may bring, they also exacerbate moral risks. To develop pride in your country, you may need to downplay the negative aspects. british history, clouding people’s ability to critically evaluate the state’s activities. Similarly, teaching values of obedience and obedience to authority seems unsuitable for cultivating independent moral reflection, especially with regard to military occupations.
Opinion polls show a majority of the British public supports raising the conscription age, with research suggesting a transition to an all-adult military is economically viable.
Similar concerns arise from the growing admiration and respect for the military across broader society. For example, in recent years the emphasis on Memorial Day has shifted from a solemn reflection on World War I; show respect All those who serve. During the same period, the Armed Forces Day event (explained (known by one researcher as the “de facto military recruitment fair”) has been rebranded and expanded. These events have faced criticism for emphasizing the benefits of military service while preventing critical reflection on military policy. In fact, refraining from participating in public events (or participating in other ways, such as wearing a white poppy) is becoming increasingly stigmatized. . ungrateful and unpatriotic. This has suppressed debate and deliberation regarding the use of force, making it difficult to think clearly about the pros and cons of military policy and the moral dangers of being a soldier.
Our arguments strengthen existing calls for reform of military conscription and service. Most obviously, raising the enlistment age would be an important step in the right direction. polling The majority of the British public supports raising the hiring age. the study This suggests that a transition to an all-adult military is economically viable.
Another measure of reform would be to require recruitment materials to acknowledge the moral seriousness of the profession and limit the ways in which the military is allowed to interact with students in schools.
Military personnel should also receive better compensation for the burdens they incur, including their mental burdens. This could include better pay and housing, a supported pipeline to further education and training (provided by the U.S. military), and improved retirement packages.
However, the practical impact of moral risk concerns is not limited to government policy. The challenge is for all of us to avoid undue moral risks and to create and sustain a public culture where openness, deliberation, and dissent are treated as public goods.
All articles posted on this blog give the views of the authors and do not represent the position of LSE British Politics and Policy or the London School of Economy and Political Science.
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