Bridging the Civil Military Gap Capitalizing on Crisis

摘要

Researchers have identified a 'civil-military gap,' an observable cultural distinction between members of the American military and the civilian society from which they are recruited. This gap appears as a political gap, with an increasingly Republican identification of military elites and an experience gap with fewer of the electorate and elected government officials having military experience. When a crisis emerges, such as the September 11th attacks, the apparent outpouring of patriotism and media interest would indicate a desire by the civilian populous to draw closer to the military, creating an opportunity to close or at least narrow this gap. The media are a key player, as they serve as the most visible link between the military and the civilian society that it serves. This paper examines the nature of the civil-military gap, approaches for narrowing that gap, and how the increased interest evident during crisis can be used to implement those suggestions.