Description
On the global stage, state power is wielded by military institutions entrenched in outdated cultures and toxic behaviours disguised as standardisation and cohesion. Inequity characterises the institution: inequity that manifests as visible and invisible harms perpetrated disproportionately against gendered and racialised bodies, manifesting itself through hierarchies. Given the race- and gender-granting nature of the military, these characteristics, in turn, influence gender and race dynamics in society and, as such, it is imperative that scholarly studies focusing on equity within military institutions pay attention not only to civil-military relations and entry into military careers but also to access to positions of power and leadership within these institutions. Scholarship on inequity in public institutions is hierarchised in itself, remaining dominated by Western ideals and thinking, with an implied assumption that the West knows best. In the context of the international rise of populist and far right governments, jeopardising the equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) agenda, we ask what inequity looks like when we compare Global South and North contexts. With speakers researching the Brazilian, United Kingdom and Thai contexts, we ask the following questions:
- How do inequities in the military differ between the Global South and North contexts?
- What inequities exist between research and military communities in the Global South and North, and how can we better foster collaboration?
- How can the Global South and North exchange experiences and establish strategies to address inequities in the Armed Forces?
- What might the threat to the EDI agenda mean for studies and interventions to address inequities in the military?