Symbols and Sacrifice in War by Kirstin J.H. Brathwaite - 9781647125783

Symbols and Sacrifice in WarNational Identity and the Will to Fight\nAuthor(s): Kirstin J.H. Brathwaite\nFormat: Hardback\nPublisher: Georgetown University Press, United States\nImprint: Georgetown University Press\nISBN-13: 9781647125783, 978-1647125783\nSynopsis\nA new theory of how soldiers persevere through the hardships of long wars\n\nNationalism and its effect on military strategy have long been of interest to scholars of conflict. Outcomes of war are not solely determined by firepower and numbers, but also by the motivations of soldiers fighting for their nation.\n\nThis book presents a new theory about the will to fight, arguing that how a conflict resonates with the myths, symbols, and core beliefs underlying national identity shapes soldiers' morale, discipline, and initiative in battle. Brathwaite compares the will to fight of British, Indian, and Australian soldiers in World War II. She draws on military records, such as unit diaries and morale reports, to demonstrate th.