The Social Construction of Peacekeeping by U.S. Soldiers
Armics arc instruments of national sovereignty and hâve historically fulfilled the major funclions of interna! social control, defense of national territory. and projection of force beyond national borders in support of national policy. While armed forces hâve frcqucntly been callcd upon lo exécute other kinds of operations, thèse thrcc funclions hâve provided a sensé of meaning to soldicrs regarding their mission. The mission was to préparé for. and if necessary to fight and win their counlrics’ wars. This rôle has been reinforced by historical accounts, by childrcn’s games, and by literary and visual media interprétations. In periods characterized by absence of internai threats. cxtcrnal cncmics, and justifications for force projection to protcct allies or national interests, soldiers hâve felt that they didn’t hâve a mission, and nations hâve questioned their need for standing military forces, and hâve frequently demobilized (The cycles of mobilization and demobilization in the United States are described in Scgal. 1989).