I was surprised to receive the official notification about our record in ISI Essential Science Indicators. On the other hand, the content and subject matter of Armed Forces & Society (AF&S) is so timely I was confident that we were contributing to social science discourse.

  How would you account for the increased citation rate of Armed Forces & Society?

“AF&S operates in the broad intellectual and policy spheres where society and military meet.”

AF&S operates in the broad intellectual and policy spheres where society and military meet. As the leading international, interdisciplinary journal devoted to examining civil-military relations, AF&S is the natural outlet for scholars examining a field that has recently become more dynamic and compelling. Society’s understanding of the role of the military has changed dramatically since the end of the Cold War. These changes have influenced both how militaries are organized and the security environment. Further, the tragedy of 9-11, the war on terrorism, and the war in Iraq have accelerated interest and the need to study this area.

  Was there a change in policy or editorial direction that might account for this?

AF&S was the first professional journal to focus on the connection between the military and society in an international and interdisciplinary way. Although the journal has been around for 30 years, the field is relatively new. As a result the literature is rather diverse. We get submissions on a variety of topics, such as the theory of civil-military relations in emerging democracies, the Spanish Civil War, Dutch peace support missions, postmodern militaries, Kenya’s coup-prevention strategies, gender integration, poetry at West Point, casualties in Iraq, the Israeli reserve force, homeless veterans, and the use of force over time. Given this diversity, it has been my agenda to make the knowledge in this field more explicitly cumulative. I have encouraged authors to take into account larger theoretical and policy connections during the revise and resubmit stage.

In addition, during my tenure, AF&S has transitioned from a paper-based office to one that is almost entirely electronic. Part of the transition includes a listserv that connects the international editorial board. The listserv and the ease of electronic communication with authors and reviewers have resulted in greater international participation.
  What historical factors have contributed to the success of Armed Forces & Society?

The success of AF&S is in large part due to its founder, University of Chicago professor Morris Janowitz, author of The Professional Soldier and acknowledged father of the field of Military Sociology. Janowitz also initiated the Inter-University Seminar on Armed Forces and Society (IUS), the professional organization that sponsors AF&S. During the Vietnam era, the leaders of IUS recognized that many top disciplinary journals were reluctant to include military-related topics. Further, the interdisciplinary nature of the topic made disciplinary journals a poor fit. AF&S filled this gap and became the primary outlet for interdisciplinary scholarship in the field. Meanwhile, the Inter-University Seminar and its bi-annual meetings created a forum for vigorous criticism and spirited exchange of ideas. These meetings created a neutral forum for exchange of ideas between the professional military and academia. AF&S complements and formalizes this critical neutral forum.

Other founders of AF&S and IUS—such as Charles Moskos, David Segal, and Sam C. Sarkesian—have brought the journal attention through their prominent roles in military policy formation. They have the attention of the popular media, Pentagon leadership, and Congress.

Initially, AF&S began as a largely American journal. During the ‘70s, AF&S examined issues such as gender integration, diversity, and the movement to an all-volunteer force in the U.S. Armed Forces. Since the end of the Cold War, militaries throughout Europe are dealing with similar problems. AF&S is an obvious resource.

AF&S has always been known as the journal that emphasized civil-military relations. Historically, our scholars of civil-military relations focused on mature democracies and the problem of civilian control. Since the end of the Cold War, our theoretical and empirical understanding of civil-military relations has been going through a renaissance. AF&S is contributing to this exploration through case studies of civil-military relations in countries around the world. Further, the questions have been recast for mature democracies. How, for example, do civil-military relations help us sustain and protect democratic values?

Another development that has contributed to the importance of AF&S is the growth of military-related subfields within disciplines. International security (in political science), military history, and military sociology are all growing subfields. Further, departments of international relations are finding military studies and civil military relations a must.

  What, in your view, is this journal’s main significance or contribution in the field of Social Sciences?

Our main significance is to publish and encourage the highest quality scholarship in the field. We continue to serve as a primary reference to military academies and war colleges worldwide.

  How do you see your field(s) evolving in the next few years?

The war on terrorism has had, and will continue to have, profound effects on the field. Basic assumptions about warfare, the role of the nation-state, civil-military relations, and the definition of an armed force are changing. The field is evolving so fast that it is a challenge to keep up with the changes.

Recent shortfalls in Army recruiting goals as well as the extensive use of contractors in a war zone will probably influence discourse about how militaries are organized and financed. Is conscription on the horizon?

Other changes such as the increasing use of international peacekeeping forces in conflicts across the globe and the use of armed forces in law enforcement and domestic actions will be influencing the field over the next few years.

  What role do you see for your journal?

AF&S is not associated with any ideological, political, or strategic orientation. I am committed to producing objective research on military institutions. The role of AF&S is to lead thoughtful discussion about the definition and role of the armed forces in theory and policy.