Research on military attitudes
Hey Rob--
There has been some significant research on the political attitudes of the military both officers and enlisted over time. Some of the most recent was by Peter Feaver at Duke (or is it UNC?) who is a Reserve officer in the Navy. Feaver found that the bulk of the officer corps self identifies as Republican (overwhelming percentages). This is a change over the last 30 years when the officer corps was less identified with political parties and there was a significant minority of Democrats
IMO it is not a good thing to find the country as politically polarized as it is nor that the military is so one sidedly self-identified. I have never seen anything wrong in officer having and expressing political opinions in private nor registering and voting nor contributing to the party of their choice. But I am somewhat concerned that the "old ethic" apolitical officers have nearly disappeared and that most military offcers are Republicans (I would be equally concerned if most were Democrats). I say this as one who for his entire active and reserve career was a registered Democrat who is now a registered Republican.
On the plus side - as demonstrated by this forum - civil disagreement is alive and well among the active, RC, and retired military, as well as the civilians who post here.
Cheers
JOhnT
Numbers, numbers, numbers
Hi Steve--
Thanks for clarifying Peter's affiliation - I'd forgotten.
In an 2006 article published by ISERP at Columbia U, Jason Dempsey, et. al. give the following figures based on 2004 research:
63% of all Army officers self-identify as conservative and Republican self-identification increases as rank goes up. Note that they do not say that conservative = Republican but the implication is there.
61% of West Point cadets identify as Republicans with and additional 14% leaning that direction.
Sounds like the numbers are down some from Peter's studies but not dramatically.
Cheers
John
PS this was the most recent data/article I saw in my cursory Google:)
This tracks with my own experience
Quote:
Originally Posted by
120mm
I see the numbers on "self-identified" political leanings, but then I actually work with these guys day to day, and see a huge chasm between (self) perception and reality. I am sometimes shocked by professional officers' view of traditionally political bell-weathers like gun control. Nearly all of the professional military officers I know are in favor of strict gun control. At issue, I believe, is the micro-management culture in the military and the basic distrust of people.
Most of these supposedly "conservative" officers are also pro-union and in favor of large and elaborate social systems to "take care of people." I'd also venture to say that most officers believe that we should "trust scientists and doctors" on environmental issues and abortion.
Frankly, I think this "right-wing politicization of the military" is left-wing agit-prop, more than anything. Based on a "scientific" poll, of course:rolleyes:
Strongly agree with the micro-management aspect and would add that the attitudes you cite have really grown in the services over the last 30 years or so, they used to be a lot more conservative than they are today. Back in the theoretically totally apolitical but actually non-voting time they were were far more in tune with 'conservative' positions than is the case today.
The only major variance from centrist US thought is generally in foreign affairs and defense where they tend to lean slightly but not overly right...