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UNCONVENTIONAL COMBAT
In recent decades, there has been a generational shift of the US veterans' peace movement, from one grounded mostly in the experiences of older white men of the Vietnam War era, to one informed by a young, diverse cohort of post-9/11 veterans. In Unconventional Combat , Michael A. Messner traces this transformation through the life-history interviews of six veterans of color to show how their experiences of sexual and gender harassment, sexual assault, racist and homophobic abuse during their military service has shaped their political views and action. Drawing upon participant observation with the Veterans For Peace and About Face organizations and interviews with older male veterans as his backdrop, Messner shows how veterans' military experiences form their collective "situated knowledge" of intersecting oppressions. This knowledge, Messner argues, further shapes their intersectional praxis, which promises to transform the veterans' peace movement and potentially link their
anti-militarist work with other movement groups working for change. As intersectionality has increasingly become central to the conversation on social movements, Unconventional Combat is not only a story about the US veterans' peace movement, but it also offers broad relevance to the larger world of social justice activism.
anti-militarist work with other movement groups working for change. As intersectionality has increasingly become central to the conversation on social movements, Unconventional Combat is not only a story about the US veterans' peace movement, but it also offers broad relevance to the larger world of social justice activism.
192 pages, Paperback
Published June 11, 2021
708 people want to read
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August 25, 2021
A mix of academic writing and storytelling, this book offers plenty of food for thought about peace movements past and present, and veterans at the front of those peace movements. Hearing the gut wrenching stories of the veterans profiled in the book is incredibly compelling and enlightening. My favorite part was watching how they all found their voice and began organizing. Messner paints the controversies facing women vets of color and vets who are members of the LGBTQ2S community delicately yet clearly. He shows us the path forward, through recognizing intersectionality, and stepping aside to let people with situated knowledge of oppressive systems lead. An interesting read for anyone interested in issues of war and peace and activism in general.
Displaying 1 of 1 review