Damage, recovery, and the geographies of military–civil entanglements

This paper explores two forms of entanglements between military and civilian phenomena and activities, in contexts of recovery from damaging events. One concerns global civil–military entanglements in low earth orbital space, where recovery from damage is necessary for sustaining the civilian and military service support systems on which we increasingly depend. The other uses the damage caused by the UK state’s regimes of financial austerity to highlight how gendered, spatialized forms of personal labour through military Reserve forces sustain recovery. Both suggest ways in which military and political geography and geographers can find new ways of thinking through civil–military entanglements

Militarization, stigma, and resistance: negotiating military reservist identity in the civilian workplace

Set against the backdrop of the British Government’s Future Reserves 2020 (FR2020) programme, this article addresses military reservists’ experiences of how they are perceived by civilian colleagues in the workplace. Drawing on qualitative interviews with reservists, it analyses their understandings of civilian co-workers’ qualified and sometimes reluctant acceptance in light of FR2020’s implicit aim to use reservists to help realign civil–military relationships. While it appears that civilian work colleagues’ social distancing of reservists helps consolidate the wider public’s perceived lack of understanding of the British armed forces, a more critical view sees reservists’ largely unchallenged presence in the workplace as an exemplary, yet subtle instance of militarization. This is because reservists’ simultaneous (physical) inclusion and (social) distancing or stigmatization constitutes, and is constitutive of, their need to pass as civilian. In conclusion, we argue that a key implication of their passing as civilian is to neutralize debate of the legitimacy–or otherwise–of the armed forces as an institution tasked with violence on behalf of the state

Rapid Optical Fluctuations in the Black Hole Binary, V4641 Sgr

We report on unprecedented short-term variations detected in the optical flux from the black hole binary system, V4641 Sgr. Amplitudes of the optical fluctuations were larger at longer time scales, and surprisingly reached ~60% around a period of ~10 min. The power spectra of fluctuations are characterized by a power law. It is the first case in black hole binaries that the optical emission was revealed to show short-term and large-amplitude variations given by such a power spectrum. The optical emission from black hole binaries is generally dominated by the emission from the outer portion of an accretion disc. The rapid optical fluctuations however indicate that the emission from an inner accretion region significantly contributes to the optical flux. In this case, cyclo-synchrotron emission associated with various scales of magnetic flares is the most promising mechanism for the violently variable optical emission.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures, accepted for publication in PAS

What constitutes evidence in hospital new drug decision making?

In National Health Service hospitals in the UK the introduction of new drugs is controlled by a local Drug and Therapeutics Committee (DTC), which is expected to apply the principles of evidence-based medicine (EBM). In the light of growing expenditure on drugs, there is interest in how the decisions are made that lead to the local acceptance or rejection of a new drug. In this study the DTCs of two general hospitals were observed, tape-recorded and analysed to determine what was considered as evidence and how it was used in decision making. Evidence, as constituted by DTC members, was issues that affected the decision-making process and included: clinical trial data, cost, pre-existing prescribing of the drug, pharmaceutical company activities, decisions of other DTCs, patient demand, clinician excitement, and personality of the applicant. Debate usually started with a discussion of the scientific evidence, then the cost would be considered. Often this evidence was either inadequate or insufficient enough for a locally implementable decision and further types of evidence would be brought in to try and estimate the likely impact of adopting the new drug. EBM, while used in decision making, was supplemented by local knowledge, although decisions were accounted for in the language of scientific rationality. Both abstract scientific rationality and the local rationality of practical healthcare provision were present in the decisions of the DTCs on the adoption, or otherwise, of new drugs into local formularies and healthcare. We suggest the coming together of local and abstract in local decision-making needs to be taken into account when formulating policy and providing decision support.Drug and Therapeutics Committee Evidence-based medicine Formulary Drug Decision making UK

La emergente producción del análisis en la foto elicitación: imágenes de la identidad militar

This paper takes a radical view for the application of a reflexive approach to the analysis of interview data. It suggests that, if adopted, such an approach allows us to see in our data the use of an ongoing reflexivity of the researcher in the interview. As such, this permits us to observe analysis being undertaken during the interview process—not, as is reported in the literature, as a separate stage. Importantly, if we look at the work of the interviewees, we can also appreciate that they are themselves applying a reflexive approach to their interaction with the interviewer. Indeed, they also undertake a reflexive analysis of the emergent interview and collaboratively contribute to the analytic aspects of the co-produced data which is the research interview. What we suggest is that this being the case, we need to reappraise our view of where analysis of interviews begins, recognize the reflexive nature of interview data production and the contributions of both the interviewer and interviewee to this process in order to recognize and understand the interactional and collaborative practices involved. With respect to photo elicitation we need to recognize that the photograph is not simply a source of information, of details that can be read by the informant. Rather, it is part of a collaborative interaction between the interviewer and interviewee in the production of analysis and data. URN: urn:nbn:de:0114-fqs0803309Dieser Beitrag vertritt einen radikal-reflexiven Ansatz bei der Analyse von Interviewdaten. Es wird die These aufgestellt, dass dieser Ansatz, einmal eingenommen, es erlaubt, die Reflexivität der Forschenden im Interviewverlauf nachzuvollziehen. Die Analyse findet schon im Prozess des Interviews statt und nicht erst, wie in der Literatur meist unterstellt, in einer getrennten Phase danach. Wichtig ist auch anzuerkennen, dass die Interviewten selbst einen reflexiven Ansatz in ihrer Interaktion mit den Interviewenden verwenden; sie führen sozusagen eine reflexive Analyse des ablaufenden Interviews durch und kooperieren dabei mit dem Forscher bzw. der Forscherin in der Erzeugung der Daten des Forschungsinterviews. Wenn dies so ist, dann sollte die Definition korrigiert werden, die festlegt, ab welchem Zeitpunkt die Analyse des Interviews beginnt. Zudem muss die reflexive Natur von Interviewdaten anerkannt werden sowie auch der Umstand, dass beide Parteien zu diesem Prozess beitragen: Mithilfe der Foto-Elizitierung können wir zeigen, dass Fotografien nicht bloß eine Informationsquelle sind, die von den Befragten identifiziert wird, sondern dass eine Interaktion von Interviewenden und Interviewten zur kooperativen Herstellung der Daten und der Analyse vollzogen wird. URN: urn:nbn:de:0114-fqs0803309Este artículo sostiene una visión radical de la aplicación del enfoque reflexivo al análisis de datos de entrevista. Sugiere que tal enfoque permite ver en nuestros datos el empleo de una continua reflexividad por parte del investigador en la entrevista. Esto nos permite ver que el análisis se está realizando durante el propio proceso de entrevista, contrariamente a lo que en la literatura metodológica se concibe como una etapa separada. Si miramos el trabajo del entrevistado también podemos ver que ellos mismos aplican el enfoque reflexivo en su interacción con el entrevistador. Desarrollan además un análisis reflexivo de la emergente entrevista y contribuyen de forma colaborativa al análisis de los datos co-producidos en la entrevista de investigación. Sugerimos, por tanto, la necesidad de revaluar nuestra visión de dónde comienza el análisis de la entrevista, reconocer la naturaleza reflexiva de la producción de los datos de entrevista y la contribución de entrevistador y entrevistado a este proceso, así como reconocer y comprender las prácticas interactivas y colaborativas que esto comprende. Respecto a la elicitación fotográfica debemos reconocer que la fotografía no es meramente una fuente de información cuyos detalles pueden ser leídos por el informante, sino una parte de la interacción colaborativa entre entrevistador y entrevistado en la producción de análisis y datos. URN: urn:nbn:de:0114-fqs080330

The emergent production of analysis in photo elicitation: pictures of military identity

This paper takes a radical view for the application of a reflexive approach to the analysis of interview data. It suggests that, if adopted, such an approach allows us to see in our data the use of an ongoing reflexivity of the researcher in the interview. As such, this permits us to observe analysis being undertaken during the interview process—not, as is reported in the literature, as a separate stage. Importantly, if we look at the work of the interviewees, we can also appreciate that they are themselves applying a reflexive approach to their interaction with the interviewer. Indeed, they also undertake a reflexive analysis of the emergent interview and collaboratively contribute to the analytic aspects of the co-produced data which is the research interview. What we suggest is that this being the case, we need to reappraise our view of where analysis of interviews begins, recognize the reflexive nature of interview data production and the contributions of both the interviewer and interviewee to this process in order to recognize and understand the interactional and collaborative practices involved. With respect to photo elicitation we need to recognize that the photograph is not simply a source of information, of details that can be read by the informant. Rather, it is part of a collaborative interaction between the interviewer and interviewee in the production of analysis and data. URN: urn:nbn:de:0114-fqs080330

The Value of the University Armed Service Units

This book provides a comprehensive assessment of the value of the university armed service units – the University Officer Training Corps, University Royal Naval Units and University Air Squadrons. The units, many of which date back to the early 20th century, exist in order to provide students at UK universities with an experience of the British armed forces. Participation in the units is entirely voluntary, and there is no expectation that students will go on to join the armed forces on graduation, although a proportion of students each year do so.The Value of the University Armed Service Units brings together the results of a research project which explored what the value of the units might be to student participants, to graduates in civilian jobs who had the experience as students, to the armed forces, to universities whose students take part in the units, and to employers of graduates with service unit experience. This book draws on quantitative and qualitative research data to explore whether, how, and why the units have value to these different groups. Significant conclusions include the extent to which the units are able to assist students with the development of their transferable (graduate) skills; the potential significance of the units for future recruitment to the armed forces, particularly the Reserves; and the effect of unit experience in developing an informed understanding of the role and function of the British armed forces amongst the wider civilian population

The Emergent Production of Analysis in Photo Elicitation: Pictures of Military Identity

This paper takes a radical view for the application of a reflexive approach to the analysis of interview data. It suggests that, if adopted, such an approach allows us to see in our data the use of an ongoing reflexivity of the researcher in the interview. As such, this permits us to observe analysis being undertaken during the interview process—not, as is reported in the literature, as a separate stage. Importantly, if we look at the work of the interviewees, we can also appreciate that they are themselves applying a reflexive approach to their interaction with the interviewer. Indeed, they also undertake a reflexive analysis of the emergent interview and collaboratively contribute to the analytic aspects of the co-produced data which is the research interview. What we suggest is that this being the case, we need to reappraise our view of where analysis of interviews begins, recognize the reflexive nature of interview data production and the contributions of both the interviewer and interviewee to this process in order to recognize and understand the interactional and collaborative practices involved. With respect to photo elicitation we need to recognize that the photograph is not simply a source of information, of details that can be read by the informant. Rather, it is part of a collaborative interaction between the interviewer and interviewee in the production of analysis and data.Dieser Beitrag vertritt einen radikal-reflexiven Ansatz bei der Analyse von Interviewdaten. Es wird die These aufgestellt, dass dieser Ansatz, einmal eingenommen, es erlaubt, die Reflexivität der Forschenden im Interviewverlauf nachzuvollziehen. Die Analyse findet schon im Prozess des Interviews statt und nicht erst, wie in der Literatur meist unterstellt, in einer getrennten Phase danach. Wichtig ist auch anzuerkennen, dass die Interviewten selbst einen reflexiven Ansatz in ihrer Interaktion mit den Interviewenden verwenden; sie führen sozusagen eine reflexive Analyse des ablaufenden Interviews durch und kooperieren dabei mit dem Forscher bzw. der Forscherin in der Erzeugung der Daten des Forschungsinterviews. Wenn dies so ist, dann sollte die Definition korrigiert werden, die festlegt, ab welchem Zeitpunkt die Analyse des Interviews beginnt. Zudem muss die reflexive Natur von Interviewdaten anerkannt werden sowie auch der Umstand, dass beide Parteien zu diesem Prozess beitragen: Mithilfe der Foto-Elizitierung können wir zeigen, dass Fotografien nicht bloß eine Informationsquelle sind, die von den Befragten identifiziert wird, sondern dass eine Interaktion von Interviewenden und Interviewten zur kooperativen Herstellung der Daten und der Analyse vollzogen wird.Este artículo sostiene una visión radical de la aplicación del enfoque reflexivo al análisis de datos de entrevista. Sugiere que tal enfoque permite ver en nuestros datos el empleo de una continua reflexividad por parte del investigador en la entrevista. Esto nos permite ver que el análisis se está realizando durante el propio proceso de entrevista, contrariamente a lo que en la literatura metodológica se concibe como una etapa separada. Si miramos el trabajo del entrevistado también podemos ver que ellos mismos aplican el enfoque reflexivo en su interacción con el entrevistador. Desarrollan además un análisis reflexivo de la emergente entrevista y contribuyen de forma colaborativa al análisis de los datos co-producidos en la entrevista de investigación. Sugerimos, por tanto, la necesidad de revaluar nuestra visión de dónde comienza el análisis de la entrevista, reconocer la naturaleza reflexiva de la producción de los datos de entrevista y la contribución de entrevistador y entrevistado a este proceso, así como reconocer y comprender las prácticas interactivas y colaborativas que esto comprende. Respecto a la elicitación fotográfica debemos reconocer que la fotografía no es meramente una fuente de información cuyos detalles pueden ser leídos por el informante, sino una parte de la interacción colaborativa entre entrevistador y entrevistado en la producción de análisis y datos