1. Disillusionment in Afghanistan
A five country study into plots by soldier-authors

2. Cause
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3. Disillusionment Photo: www.conservativehome.blogs.com
It is often said that the majority of stories written by war veterans in the 20th century are disillusionment plots. The romantic image of war is substituted during the twentieth century by an image of war as hell and soldiers are no longer heroes but are seen as victims. It is described by Herzog as a typical reaction of soldiers who:
… enter war with this sense of adventure and innocence shaped by cultural myths, an older generation’s war stories, and society’s beliefs about war as a rite of passage and a test of character and courage.(Herzog 1992: 4)
Or as Harari puts it:
Therefore many junior-rank memoirists set themselves a utopian mission of replacing the fictional image of war with a true image, hoping thereby to prevent future generations from going to war (Harari 2004: 91-92).
Is this still visible, the dominant discourse in the twenty-first century?
This process takes place on different moments, for different countries: UK: WW1
US: Vietnam
GE: WW2 ?
NE: Srebrenica ?
Will it still be visible in all these countries?
Photo:
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4. Research question
Do military-authors from different countries write different plots?
WHO: military-authors
WHAT: plots
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5. Agenda - Research question - Scope Results: Who
Plot: methodology Friedman
Results: What
Conclusion
Research into books that military authors from different countries write.
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6. Agenda - Research question - Scope Results: Who
Plot: methodology Friedman
Results: What
Conclusion
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7. Scoping: Afghanistan 2001-2010
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8. Scope: languages Three languages: Dutch, German, English
Main Dutch partners
Belgium and Australia are omitted due to lack of books
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9. Scoping: autobiography
autobiographical
biographical
Self publication
Edited publication
Ghost written
Written by other
In this study, books that are ghost written are only included when the copyright of the book is owned at least partially by the soldier-author, and on the cover the soldier author is mentioned as the first writer and the ghost writer second. However, when the preface indicates that the soldier-author was interviewed by the ghost writer and did hardly any writing himself or herself, the book will still be excluded.
A book such as Immediate Response, that according to the cover is written by Major Mark Hammond, according to the inside cover by Mark Hammond with Clare Macnaughton and according to the copyright by Clare Macnaughton is omitted from our scope.
Plot DisGrow * Ghost Crosstabulation
Count Ghost Total
yes no
Plot DisGrow
Disillusionment
Growth
Rest
Total
Pearson Chi-Square 7,159a 2 ,028
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10. Scoping: autobiography
A book such as Immediate Response, that according to the cover is written by Major Mark Hammond, according to the inside cover by Mark Hammond with Clare Macnaughton and according to the copyright by Clare Macnaughton is omitted from our scope.
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11. Definition
This study will concentrate on non-fiction, autobiographical books, written between 2001 and 2010 in Dutch, English or German that (mainly) deal with the deployment experiences of Western military personnel in Afghanistan and are intended for the public at large.
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12. Country # Books The Netherlands 7 Germany United States 22
Definition
Country
# Books
The Netherlands 7
Germany
United States 22
United Kingdom 15
Canada 3
Total 54
Three main methods were used: lists, library searches and book website searches.
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13. Agenda - Research question - Scope Results: Who
Plot: methodology Friedman
Results: What
Conclusion
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15. Who: Rank Mean age: 40 Eventuele voettekst Rank
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid OR-1 1 1,9 1,9 1,9
OR-2 1 1,9 1,9 3,7
OR-4 2 3,7 3,7 7,4
OR-5 5 9,3 9,3 16,7
OR-6 2 3,7 3,7 20,4
OR-7 3 5,6 5,6 25,9
OR-8 1 1,9 1,9 27,8
OR-9 2 3,7 3,7 31,5
warrant officer US 1 1,9 1,9 33,3
lieutenant 4 7,4 7,4 40,7
captain 14 25,9 25,9 66,7
major 9 16,7 16,7 83,3
lieutenant-colonel 8 14,8 14,8 98,1
colonel 1 1,9 1,9 100,0
Total ,0 100,0
Military Category
Valid senior officer 18 33,3 33,3 33,3
junior officer 18 33,3 33,3 66,7
NCO 14 25,9 25,9 92,6
junior enlisted 4 7,4 7,4 100,0
Age group
Valid ,8 18,6 18,6
,4 25,6 44,2
,9 32,6 76,7
,5 23,3 100,0
Total 43 79,6 100,0
Missing ,4
Total ,0
Blood makes the grass grow: he is a private, but has a master in criminology.
Mean age: 40
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16. Who: profession (kinetic)
Use of weapon mainly as self-defense (non-kinetic) or offensive (kinetic)
Kinetic
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid kinetic 33 61,1 61,1 61,1
non-kinetic 21 38,9 38,9 100,0
Total ,0 100,0
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17. Who: professionals vs reserves
Status
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid professional 37 68,5 69,8 69,8
reserve 16 29,6 30,2 100,0
Total 53 98,1 100,0
Missing ,9
Total ,0
% reservist # expected # real W-T (W-T)2 Chi2
NL 7 12,50% 0,88 5 4,12 17, ,43982 * determined only by NL!
GE 7 9,50% 0,67 2 1,34 1, ,680038
UK 15 1,10% 0, ,17 0, ,165
US 22 35,80% 7,88 9 1,12 1, ,160408
CAN 3 29,30% 0, ,88 0, ,879
23,32427 with 4 degrees of freedom >13,28 so 99% significant
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18. Who: still working for MoD?
Work RC
Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent
Valid yes 24 44,4 48,0 48,0
no 26 48,1 52,0 100,0
Total 50 92,6 100,0
Missing ,4
Total ,0
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19. Agenda - Research question - Scope Results: Who
Plot: methodology Friedman
Results: What
Conclusion
Do military-authors from different countries write different plots?
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20. Friedman Based on: Friedman (1955) Forms of the Plot, p 242-253
Disillusionment: a sympathetic protagonist starts out in the full bloom of faith in a certain set of ideals and, after being subjected to some kind of loss, threat or trail, loses that faith entirely. (Friedman p 252)
A deep change of worldview from the positive to the negative (McKee p 81)
Why Friedman:
Very concrete, analytical system, not vague, no overlaps (flow charts)
Specifically aimed at disillusionment plots (disillusionment & degeneration)
Friedman’s system at the basis of the twenty-five categories that screenwriters currently use to distinguish film genres (McKee p 80-86) Disadvantage of that system is that its vague and overlapping
Also in standard work on literature (el texto narrativo)
Based on: Friedman (1955) Forms of the Plot, p
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21. Friedman

22. Friedman Gebaseerd op: Friedman (1955) Forms of the Plot, p 242-253
Maturing plot: (parafrasering) a change in character for the better, ‘frequently involving the coming-of-age of young people’ (Friedman p 250)
The coming-of-age- story (McKee p 81)
(p258) Afghanistan, Kabul and many people have changed my life. This deployment not only has given my a new way of looking at the world, but it has also brought me experiences which I will never ever forget, for which I am grateful.
(245) And I have also changed. A change for which I am grateful. It has opened my eyes, and makes that I no longer only move on the surface.
(252) I have also learned that life constantly changes. That you should trust in your own ability to handle situations even when you have to go further then ever before.
(p258) Afghanistan, Kabul und viele Menschen haben mein Leben verandert. Dieser Einsatz hat mir nicht nur neue Einblicke verschafft, sondern auch Erfarungen vermittlet, die ich nie in meinem Leben vergessen werde. Dabur bin ich sehr dankbar.
(p 245) Und ich habe mich verandert. Eine Veranderung, fur die ich dankbar bin. Sie hat mir die Augen geoffnet, mich nicht weiter nur an der Oberglache zu bewegen.
(p 252) ich have auch gelernt, dass sich das Leben standig verandert. Dasss man sich auch mal truaen solte, Grenzen zu uberschreien.
Gebaseerd op: Friedman (1955) Forms of the Plot, p
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23. Agenda - Research question - Scope Results: Who
Plot: methodology Friedman
Results: What
Conclusion
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24. Research question
Do military-authors from different countries write different plots?
WHO: military-authors
WHAT: plots
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25. Results Significant (p>0,039) Value df Asymp. Sig. (2-sided)
Chi-Square Tests
Value df Asymp. Sig. (2-sided)
Pearson Chi-Square 10,085a 4 ,039
Likelihood Ratio 12,517 4 ,014
Linear-by-Linear Association 2,092 1 ,148
N of Valid Cases 53
a. 6 cells (60,0%) have expected count less than 5. The minimum expected count is 1,19.
Even stronger result for Positive versus Negative plots:
Nationality * Plot posneg Crosstabulation
Count
Plot posneg Total
positive negative
Nationality NL 7 0 7
GE 2 5 7 UK US
CAN 2 1 3
Total
Pearson Chi-Square 10,640a 4 ,031
Likelihood Ratio 13,223 4 ,010
Linear-by-Linear Association 2,705 1 ,100
N of Valid Cases 52
a. 6 cells (60,0%) have expected count less than 5. The minimum expected count is 1,27.
 Significant (p>0,039)
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26. Kind of Disillusionment Plots
Or as Harari puts it:
Therefore many junior-rank memoirists set themselves a utopian mission of replacing the fictional image of war with a true image, hoping thereby to prevent future generations from going to war (Harari 2004: 91-92).
This is not the kind of disillusionment we see in these twenty-first century stories. It is disillusionment with state and army, not with war we see.
Plot
Frequency Percent
Valid disillusionment-war 1 1,9
Degeneration ,1
disillusionment-armed forces 8 14,8
disillusionment-state 5 9,3 ,9
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27. Results

28. The Netherlands NL education 3 admiration 4
Proud about job (many reservists wanting to share the message that they do good work). Participating in the Dutch debate between reconstructionists and combatants.
Extremely significant more reservists (Chi2=19,4 , p< 0,01)
These are literally mainly reconstructionists: CIMIC, IDEAL, , only one combatant (Niels Roelen). So maybe a kinetic vs non-kinetic
Everyone still working for Defense
NL Count
% within Nationality 100,0% ,0% 100,0%
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29. Consultant in het groen
The adventures of an IDEA* (Business) consultant on the Pol-e-Komri PRT** where she teaches at an Afghani Polytech and tries to introduce the Solar Cooker in Afghanistan.
Is a thought plot ( more tolerant & understanding) from + to ++ , general/philosophical therefore an education plot.
*Integrated Development of Entrepreneurial Activities
** Provincial Reconstruction Team
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30. Results: Reservist? Not significant (p =0,885)
Chi-Square Tests
Value df Asymp. Sig. (2-sided) Exact Sig. (2-sided) Exact Sig. (1-sided)
Pearson Chi-Square ,021a 1 ,885
Continuity Correctionb , ,000
Likelihood Ratio ,021 1 ,885
Symmetric Measures
Value Approx. Sig.
Nominal by Nominal Phi -,020 ,885
Not significant (p =0,885)
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31. Results: (non) kinetic?
Chi-Square Tests
Value df Asymp. Sig. (2-sided) Exact Sig. (2-sided) Exact Sig. (1-sided)
Pearson Chi-Square 4,938a 1 ,026
Continuity Correctionb 3,749 1 ,053
Symmetric Measures
Value Approx. Sig.
Nominal by Nominal Phi -,308 ,026
N of Valid Cases 52
PS: not significant for Disilusionment plots:
Nominal by Nominal Phi ,262 ,057
Cramer's V ,262 ,057
N of Valid Cases 53
Significant (p=0,026)
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32. Results: Still working for MoD?
Chi-Square Tests
Value df Asymp. Sig. (2-sided) Exact Sig. (2-sided) Exact Sig. (1-sided)
Pearson Chi-Square 7,943a 1 ,005
Continuity Correctionb 6,307 1 ,012
Symmetric Measures
Value Approx. Sig.
Nominal by Nominal Phi -,425 ,005
For positive/negative plots the statistical significance is even higher!
Significant (p= 0,005)
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33. Germany GE dis-army 1 dis-state 1 degeneration 3 education 1
maturity 1
Degeneration plots fit with the pacifist culture in Germany, with the dominant discourse.
… enter war with this sense of adventure and innocence shaped by cultural myths, an older generation’s war stories, and society’s beliefs about war as a rite of passage and a test of character and courage.(Herzog 1992: 4)
Here also there are cultural myths and societal beliefs that do not concur with reality. This time not about sense of adventure and rites of passage, but about the pacifist nature of the engagement of the German soldiers in Afghanistan.
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34. Germany
Dust jacket: Hieke Groos tells in an empathic way how war hurts (‘verletzt’) the human soul (‘Seele’) and she critisizes a system that has not yet found a way to help its veterans.
Heike Gro0s …. Erzählt auf eindrückliche Weise, wie der Krieg die menschliche Seele verletzt und kritisiert ein System, das noch keine Wege gefunden hat, seinen Veteranen beizustehen.
These are mainly stories about a country that doesn’t want to see its soldiers fight. The same issue as the Dutch (reconstructionists and combatants) but here the military authors have the feeling that nobody in Germany understands that the reality in Afghanistan is that it is a combatting mission, not reconstruction. They try to change the discourse.
As Rid and Zapfe (in: Fighting the Afghanistan War, 2012/2013) call it: Germany since WWII has “ a unique and highly institutionalized cultural attitude towards the use of forcë….a culture of military restraint”
Degeneration plots get published
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35. Germany Schwitalla (264): “ The compound is quiet but not stabil”
12 threat warnings
11x times his soldiers were shot at
5 wounded and 2 badly injured
Compound 4 times shot at
“Die Lage ist ruhig, aber nicht stabil”
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36. United Kingdom UK dis-army 1 dis-war 1 dis-state 1 dis-gen 1
education 1
maturity 5
admiration 1
action 4
Althought there is a lot of complaining, the style is that of the lifestory, which ends in a positive note: maturity plot.
Actionplots are also very favorite.
Weird, because qualitatively my conclusion is that the UK books all reflect the public discourse about the military convenant: that the state has to take care of its soldiers and that she doesn’t do that right at the moment.
Possibly a cultural other style, because the complaining remains in each. There is no ‘gentlemen’ effect visible: all ranks complain and are negative in the same ratio.
Maybe the masculinity thesis from Woodward who describes the UK market as “mass-market ‘true life army story’ paperbacks, an expanding genre in which former soldiers tell their stories of active service to a mostly young, male readership eager to learn how it really was.” (p 642) that describes a military culture of military masculinity, in a warrior nation.
Maybe complaining as overall plot doesn’t fit that image of military masculinity.
UK is a ghost writer’s market and ghostwriters write positive books, not negative books!
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37. United Kingdom
Marine looses his legs in Afghanistan but vows that he will dance with his bride at their wedding.
Literature of the wounded: maturity plot
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38. Result: gentlemen effect?
There is no ‘gentlemen’ effect visible: all ranks complain and are negative in the same ratio.
Chi-Square Tests
Value df Asymp. Sig. (2-sided)
Pearson Chi-Square 1,750a 3 ,626
Likelihood Ratio 2,245 3 ,523
Linear-by-Linear Association 1,583 1 ,208
N of Valid Cases 14
a. 8 cells (100,0%) have expected count less than 5. The minimum expected count is ,57.
Not significant (p= 0,626)
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39. Results: Ghost? Significant (p= 0,026) Chi-Square Tests
Value df Asymp. Sig. (2-sided)
Pearson Chi-Square 11,067a 4 ,026
Likelihood Ratio 11,710 4 ,020
Linear-by-Linear Association ,033 1 ,857
N of Valid Cases 54
a. 6 cells (60,0%) have expected count less than 5. The minimum expected count is ,44.
Significant (p= 0,026)
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40. Result: Ghost writer influence?
Chi-Square Tests
Value df Asymp. Sig. (2-sided)
Pearson Chi-Square 7,159a 2 ,028
Likelihood Ratio 9,663 2 ,008
Linear-by-Linear Association 6,941 1 ,008 x
N of Valid Cases 53
a. 3 cells (50,0%) have expected count less than 5. The minimum expected count is 2,42.
NB: The REST = 60% action plots (3 out of 5 ghostwritten books) AND 60% of the action plots (3 of the 5 action plots)
Plot * Ghost Crosstabulation
Count
Ghost Total
yes no
Plot disillusionment-war 0 1 1
education
maturity
action
admiration
affective
pathetic
degeneration
disillusionment-armed f 0 8 8
disillusionment-state 0 5 5
sentimental
unclear
Disillusionment-general 0 1 1
Total
Significant (p= 0,028)
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41. Conclusion
Do military-authors from different countries write different plots?
YES

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