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Mutations in America's Perceptions of Its Professional Military LeadersAn Historical Overview and Update63 Pinon Hill Place NE, Albuquerque, NM, 87122, cbobk{at}aol.com America's civil-military relations continuum is influenced by evolving perceptions of its professional military leaders, with "image" often weighing more than analysis. Moreover, this historical overview submits, significant transmutations are seemingly again underway. This historical record, with emphasis on the influence of "opinion shapers," is traced herein to provide a context for ongoing studies. In America's first century, both sharply negative and positive perceptions became entrenched, but generally military leaders enjoyed high repute in influential circles. At century's turn, progressive revisionists, avowedly antimilitary, gained influence. The twentieth century saw severe criticism, only partially muted by the World Wars, from previously admiring sectors. Around 1990, there came signs of adjustments and synthesis. Rationales for habitually negative views weakened. "Antiwar" no longer perforce equated to "antimilitary." Scholarship was more balanced and was dubious of caricatures, praiseworthy or damning. Vietnam era disdain shifted more to concern for forces "in harm's way." Whether such adjustments will continue remains to be measured.
Key Words: perceptions • opinion shapers • mutations • synthesis
This version was published on October
1, 2007 Armed Forces & Society, Vol. 34, No. 1,
29-45 (2007) |
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