Ritual, Rhythms, and the Discomforting Endurance of Militarism: Affective Methodologies and Ethico-Political Challenges

Abstract

This article explores the rituals and rhythms of military commemoration events and the ways these practices reproduce and legitimize militarism. I assess two Canadian war commemorative rituals—the Highway of Heroes gatherings and the Portraits of Honour tour—as micro-political sites where the affective dimensions of militarism are reproduced. The article theorizes how emotion and affect are entangled in rhythms of commemorative rituals. While scholarship in international relations has largely focused on cognitive approaches to studying militarism, this article envisions militarism from a reflective and relational perspective, building upon a burgeoning, largely feminist-led theorization of militarism as affective. The article considers how resisting militarist discourse and practice is difficult due to ethico-political relations forged in militarist rituals. Yet, as the article argues, a thorough examination of these relations is necessary if we are to properly challenge the “unquestionable” military politics of Western nations.