The Army as an Institutional Concept, Symboland Bearer of National Values

The Army as an Institutional Concept, Symbol and Bearer of National Values Václav Kmoníček Abstract This dissertation analyzes the Army of the Czech Republic as an institution that simultaneously fulfills power-based, symbolic, and value-oriented functions within society. It is based on the assumption that the army is not merely a tool of repressive state power, but also a significant cultural actor that embodies and (re)produces shared national values and ideals. The aim of the thesis is to understand how the army operates at the intersection of the triad of state - army - society, and how this relationship shapes soldiers' identities and legitimizes the power and existence of the state. The dissertation is divided into three main parts. The first part establishes a theoretical framework for examining the army as a state apparatus (in the spirit of theories of hegemony, disciplinary power, and legitimate violence), as a (non)total institution, and as a symbolic system. The second part outlines the development of the Czech Army, the motivations of its members to serve, and defines the methodology of research. The third, interpretive part, is based on empirical research - a combination of a questionnaire survey among members of the Czech Army, long-term participant observation, and the researcher's...