Looking at the military service readiness of Estonian reserve soldiers through the prism of Bourdieu’s theory of practice
Date
2021-11-09
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Abstract
Eesti sõjalise kaitse aluseks on esmane iseseisev kaitsevõime ja NATO kollektiivkaitse. Esmase iseseisva kaitsevõime põhijõuks on reservüksused. Reservüksuste tõsiseltvõetava heidutusvõime ja NATO kollektiivkaitse käivitumiseks vajamineva esmase vastupanuvõime säilitamine eeldab nende üksuste korduvat osalemist reservõppekogunemistel. Kui Eesti elanikkonna toetus riigikaitsele on läbi taasiseseisvumisjärgse aja püsinud stabiilselt kõrge, siis reservväelaste reservõppekogunemistel osalemisprotsent on olnud pigem kõikuv. Reservväelaste teenistusvalmiduse sotsiaalsete ja individuaalsete mõjutegurite parem tundmine võimaldab teadmispõhiselt tõsta reservõppekogunemistel osalemist. Doktoritöö “Eesti reservväelaste teenistusvalmidus ja Bourdieu praktikateooria” eesmärk on selgitada välja reservväelaste reservõppekogunemistel osalemist enim mõjutavad tsiviil- ja militaarväljaga seotud mõjutegurid. Pierre Bourdieu praktikateooriast lähtudes analüüsitakse siin teenistusvalmiduse mõjutegureid erinevate kapitalivormidena ning uuringutulemuste mõtestamisel kasutatakse ka teisi praktikateooria põhielemente. Uuringute tulemused kinnitavad, et reservväelase käitumisotsustust mõjutab eelkõige tema tsiviilelust lähtuv majanduslik- ja sotsiaalne kapital. Reservväelase rahalised kohustused ja sellega seonduv perekonna ja tööandja toetus on reservteenistuse pika perioodi jooksul muutuva mõjuga, mis omakorda eeldab teatavat paindlikkust reservteenistusega seotud õigusraamistikus, kokkulepetes ja läbirääkimistes. Samas, ka militaarväli pakub reservväelaste teenistusvalmidust tõstvaid kapitalivorme, milledest kõige tõhusam on üksuse sidusus. Uuringud tõid välja ka reservväelaste teenistusvalmiduse seose militaarväljalt ja tsiviilväljalt kogutud kapitali konverteeritavusega ja seda mõlemas suunas. Reservväelase motivatsiooni mõjutab positiivselt see, kui militaarväljal omandatud teadmised ja oskused on ka tsiviilväljal rakendatavad. Samaaegselt suurendab reservväelase tööandja positiivset suhtumist reservteenistusse see, kui reservväelase tööalaseid oskusi saab arendada reservõppekogunemistel.
Estonia's defense is based on initial self-defense capability and NATO's collective defense. Reserve units are the main force of the initial self-defense. Maintaining the credibility of deterrence and initial self-defense capability requires continual participation of reserve soldiers in reserve training. While the public support in Estonia for national defense has remained steadily high after regaining independence, the percentage of reservists’ participation in reserve training has been unstable. Better knowledge of the social and individual factors affecting the military service readiness of reservists enables us to increase the reservists’ participation rates in reserve training. Thus, the aim of the doctoral thesis Looking at the Military Service Readiness of Estonian Reserve Soldiers through the Prism of Bourdieu’s Theory of Practice is to assess the role of military and civilian field related capital in the process of forming reservists’ motivation to participate in reserve training. Based on Pierre Bourdieu's theory of practice, the factors influencing service readiness are analyzed as forms of capital, and research results are discussed in the context of other key elements from the theory of practice. The results of the study confirm that the reservist's behavioral decisions concerning the participation in military training are primarily influenced by his or her economic and social capital in the civilian field. The financial obligations and support from family and employer are the most significant factors. However, as the effect of these factors can vary throughout the lengthy period of reserve service, flexibility in legal framework, contracts and negotiations related to the reserve service is also important. At the same time, the military field can also offer some forms of capital that increase service readiness. The most effective capital within the military field is unit cohesion. Additionally, the convertibility of capital in both fields has a positive impact on service readiness. Reservists’ service motivation is better if the knowledge and skills acquired in the military field are applicable in the civilian field. Similarly, employers’ support to employees’ reserve service is higher if the reservist's work-related skills can be improved through reserve training.
Estonia's defense is based on initial self-defense capability and NATO's collective defense. Reserve units are the main force of the initial self-defense. Maintaining the credibility of deterrence and initial self-defense capability requires continual participation of reserve soldiers in reserve training. While the public support in Estonia for national defense has remained steadily high after regaining independence, the percentage of reservists’ participation in reserve training has been unstable. Better knowledge of the social and individual factors affecting the military service readiness of reservists enables us to increase the reservists’ participation rates in reserve training. Thus, the aim of the doctoral thesis Looking at the Military Service Readiness of Estonian Reserve Soldiers through the Prism of Bourdieu’s Theory of Practice is to assess the role of military and civilian field related capital in the process of forming reservists’ motivation to participate in reserve training. Based on Pierre Bourdieu's theory of practice, the factors influencing service readiness are analyzed as forms of capital, and research results are discussed in the context of other key elements from the theory of practice. The results of the study confirm that the reservist's behavioral decisions concerning the participation in military training are primarily influenced by his or her economic and social capital in the civilian field. The financial obligations and support from family and employer are the most significant factors. However, as the effect of these factors can vary throughout the lengthy period of reserve service, flexibility in legal framework, contracts and negotiations related to the reserve service is also important. At the same time, the military field can also offer some forms of capital that increase service readiness. The most effective capital within the military field is unit cohesion. Additionally, the convertibility of capital in both fields has a positive impact on service readiness. Reservists’ service motivation is better if the knowledge and skills acquired in the military field are applicable in the civilian field. Similarly, employers’ support to employees’ reserve service is higher if the reservist's work-related skills can be improved through reserve training.
Description
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Keywords
Estonia, reservists, reserve training, military service, willingness to defend the state, theory of capitals (sociology), sociological theories