Abstract:

In this article, I examine the bodily changes that soldiers undergo in an intensive counter-terrorism military training course. I argue that military draftees develop control and violent capabilities through Violent Reflexive Bodily Practices (VRBPs), a concept I introduce here. VRBPs, which form the core of training in this elite military unit, are simultaneously recursive, reflexive and reconstructive: they are expressed by the soldier’s body and inflicted upon his body, by using them more violence is created, and their aim is not breaking the body apart, but rebuilding it into a new entity. VRBPs are concrete body techniques that are not discussed through a broad theoretical or cultural approach but as a material and concrete experience that reconstructs individuals’ bodies. This article shows how ‘techniques of the body’ (Mauss, 1973) can be changed in a short period and reveals possible dynamics of habitually instilled capabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]Copyright of Ethnography is the property of Sage Publications, Ltd. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder’s express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Notes:

Accession Number: 85318272; Samimian-Darash, Limor 1; Affiliations: 1 : The Hebrew University, Israel Limor.Darash@mail.huji.ac.il; Source Info: Mar2013, Vol. 14 Issue 1, p46; Thesaurus Term: MILITARY personnel; Thesaurus Term: VIOLENCE; Thesaurus Term: TRAINING; Subject Term: MORAL & ethical aspects; Subject Term: COUNTERTERRORISM; Subject Term: MILITARY education; Subject Term: BODYBUILDING; Subject Term: DRAFTEES; Author-Supplied Keyword: body practices; Author-Supplied Keyword: control; Author-Supplied Keyword: fear; Author-Supplied Keyword: military training; Author-Supplied Keyword: violence; Number of Pages: 18p; Document Type: Article; Full Text Word Count: 8283