Symbols and Sacrifice in War

"Why do soldiers persevere through the dangers and hardships of a long war? What is the motivation behind their will to fight? In what Kirstin Brathwaite calls national identity theory, she argues that when a military holds to a common national identity, and when soldiers view the goals of the war as compatible with their national identity, that military will have high will to fight. The myths and symbols that make up particular national identities evoke strong emotions in soldiers, shaping preferences and behavior. When war aims are not in alignment with national identity, soldiers' will to fight is tepid at best. Brathwaite compares the will to fight of British, Indian, and Australian soldiers across several combat theaters in the Second World War (North Africa, Malaya, and Europe). She draws on military records such as unit diaries and morale reports to demonstrate the connection between identity and will to fight. Her research is important because political leaders make decisions ranging from the use of force to military manpower policy based on beliefs about what motivates soldiers in battle. Explanations of soldiers' will influence scholarly debates both regarding specific issues of military organization and on much broader issues in international politics including balance of power, nationalism, and emotion. This book builds upon and takes us beyond existing theories that emphasize small unit cohesion, regime type, or level of threat to the state"--