Militarism as performance and the politics of resistance

: an analysis of public discourse

The expectation that people in liberal societies should support the military unconditionally reflects the dominant positioning of military violence as an inherent public good. This positive positioning, which is fundamental to the military’s ability to secure resources and prepare for war, is dependent on the ideological support of civil society. Broad support at the level of public discourse is therefore a form of war participation. Starting from the position that the use of military force is morally problematic, this thesis interrogates the diverse ways in which war and violence are normalised and legitimated in liberal societies through everyday discussion and practice. Focusing on Britain, I employ a feminist pacifist approach and a theoretical framework of militarism as performance to develop understanding of how militarism operates. My central argument is that militarism is performed in public discourse through diverse feelings, movements, and social practices in everyday life. These performances, 

which include support, resistance, and disengagement, are shaped by social power structures such as race, gender, sexuality, and class. Given that militarist ideology is by no means unchallenged, I also argue that public discourse provides avenues for thinking constructively about how militarism can be 

resisted. I first outline the hegemonic approach, which typifies the existing literature, by exploring the discourses constructed by military charities. I argue that these discourses play an important role in the operation of military power. I then move the focus to public discourse by exploring how war and violence, and the particular figure of ‘the troops’, are negotiated in everyday life. By highlighting the diverse ways in which war and violence circulate in the everyday, I demonstrate that exploring public discourse is fundamental in developing understanding of how militarism works and, as such, how martial relations of power can be resisted.