‘Playing war’: Norwegian soldiers’ experiences of fun and responsibility in Afghanistan

This article discusses Norwegian soldiers' experiences of fun in Afghanistan and probes the meaning of this experience and its condition of possibility. Challenging Western moralities of war, it shows that 'fun in war' can be experienced and represented as ordinary and commonsensical, but also ephemeral and immature. Moving beyond normative and functionalist approaches, it specifically highlights the importance of context, temporality, and soldiers' sense of responsibility and innocence.

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Publication Details

Journal
War & Society
Published
2024-10-14
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1080/07292473.2024.2409539
Primary Topic
Military History and Strategy
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
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article

‘Playing war’: Norwegian soldiers’ experiences of fun and responsibility in Afghanistan

Heidi Mogstad
War & Society
Military History and Strategy
article

‘Playing war’: Norwegian soldiers’ experiences of fun and responsibility in Afghanistan

Heidi Mogstad
article en

Abstract

This article discusses Norwegian soldiers' experiences of fun in Afghanistan and probes the meaning of this experience and its condition of possibility. Challenging Western moralities of war, it shows that 'fun in war' can be experienced and represented as ordinary and commonsensical, but also ephemeral and immature. Moving beyond normative and functionalist approaches, it specifically highlights the importance of context, temporality, and soldiers' sense of responsibility and innocence.

War & SocietyVol. 44(1)
Chr. Michelsen Institute (NO)
Openalex Percentile: Top 72%
Military History and Strategy
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‘Playing war’: Norwegian soldiers’ experiences of fun and responsibility in Afghanistan — Heidi Mogstad · War & Society (2024) | TGRS Research Map | TGRS