'Thinking soldiers' : the construction of subjectivity in the era of the Korean War
This thesis explores the significance of the Korean War (1950â1953) to British social history. In particular, it examines the subjectivity of individuals who served in the British military during this 'forgotten war'. It uses the conflict as a case study through which to understand the influence of the state in shaping individuals in the Cold War period. This thesis suggests that the construction, control and efficiency of human subjects â and of the soldier in particular â were key concerns for all combatant nations involved in the Cold War. In their recent studies of life-writing Igal Halfin and Jochen Hellbeck argue that state mechanisms were paramount in moulding subjectivity in Soviet Russia, but this thesis argues (also using life-writing as the principal source) that such historical discussion should be extended to other contexts. From the psychological assessment of new recruits to the interrogation of returned prisoners of war, British authorities in the mid-twentieth century repeatedly projected their ideal models of âthinkingâ military subjects. In making such an argument, this thesis references a particularly influential body of work on the construction of subjectivity which began in
Huxford, Grace
DS Asia
'Thinking soldiers' : the construction of subjectivity in the era of the Korean War. This thesis explores the significance of the Korean War (1950â1953) to British social history. In particular, it examines the subjectivity of individuals who served in the British military during this 'forgotten war'. It uses the conflict as a case study through which to understand the influence of the state in shaping individuals in the Cold War period. This thesis suggests that the construction, control and efficiency of human subjects â and of the soldier in particular â were key concerns for all combatant nations involved in the Cold War. In their recent studies of life-writing Igal Halfin and Jochen Hellbeck argue that state mechanisms were paramount in moulding subjectivity in Soviet Russia, but this thesis argues (also using life-writing as the principal source) that such historical discussion should be extended to other contexts. From the psychological assessment of new recruits to the interrogation of returned prisoners of war, British authorities in the mid-twentieth century repeatedly projected their ideal models of âthinkingâ military subjects. In making such an argument, this thesis references a particularly influential body of work on the construction of subjectivity which began in
thinking soldier construction subjectivity era korean_war explore_significance korean_war british social_history particular examines subjectivity individual serve british_military forgotten war conflict case_study influence state shaping individual cold_war period suggests construction control efficiency human subject soldier particular key concern combatant nation involve cold_war recent_study life_writing argue state mechanism paramount mould subjectivity soviet russia argue also use life_writing principal_source historical discussion extend context psychological assessment new recruit interrogation return prisoner_war british authority repeatedly project ideal model think military subject make argument reference particularly influential body_work construction subjectivity begin