Enduring Military Boredom

From 1750 to the Present
Mæland and Brunstad

It is often said that wars consist of 5% horror and 95% boredom. In this sense, military boredom is historically enduring. But it is also personally enduring in terms of what it demands and requires of individual soldiers who have to endure it. Even in its simpler form, boredom can endanger a military operation. Ignoring boredom is poor military leadership and can easily cause tactical and strategic problems. To fully understand their soldiers, military leaders must know some of the destructive and constructive aspects of boredom, as well as its causes and consequences. The aim of this book is to contribute to a deeper understanding – historically, empirically and theoretically – of the complex phenomenon of boredom in a military context. The book takes the reader on a journey through military history and contemporary case studies in order to demonstrate how boredom has been a much-felt problem and how different means of alleviating boredom have emerged.

Utgivelsesår 2009

http://www.palgrave.com/Products/title.aspx?PID=347293

CONTENT:
Introduction
Boredom in Military History
Navigating Against the Wind of Entropy
Bored in Afghanistan?
Voyage Boredom
Submarine Boredom
Enduring Boredom – but How?
Notes
Bibliography
Index