Spiritual factor in future wars: how to shape it.

The character of an armed conflict and of warfare generally largely depends not only on logic of progress in military science, resolute military-political objectives, the military might of states but also on the spiritual factor which should be taken to imply the state of social consciousness, moral condition and readiness of the people and military personnel to bear up under privations without losing their will to win. The spiritual factor in conditions of war comprises a broad spectrum of phenomena ranging from understanding, deep realization of its goals, their own role in the uncompromising struggle and to unconquerable will and fervent desire to successfully perform their combat missions. The problem of shaping spiritual factor and its strength is a problem of extremely flexible control of people because all that makes people act goes through their heads.

The role of the spiritual factor and requirements imposed on them are constantly growing, and this is especially true of wars of the future. First, these wars will surpass all wars of the past for their scale, content and intensity. Hence, the intellectual, mental, moral and physical exertions will be greater. Second, traditional methods and forms of combat are being increasingly replaced by new methods and forms. The psychology of combat and the way civilians see wars are changing radically. This calls for substantial adjustments to the entire system of conditioning civilians for war and moral and psychological training of the military personnel. Third, wars of the future will bring about fundamentally new phenomena for which the conventional intellect, mentality and morality will prove simply unprepared. These new phenomena will pass sentence on many approaches to military organizations of states and the fighting of wars, if not on all of them.

Thus, converting the Internet into a theater of military operations (1) would make it necessary to create our own strategic command for operations in virtual reality. This will require personnel possessing appropriate moral-psychological and professional qualifies. It is not inconceivable that today's sweeping condemnation of hackers will turn into having to train them tomorrow. By the same token, while espionage stands condemned, the existence of intelligence is not disapproved.

It is only creative people with developed conscience who can adapt instantly to new conditions, meet new challenges and act ahead of unfavorable course of events, people who can hold out and win in such a war.

The spiritual factor is a unique source of strength, which makes up for the other less than perfect subsystems of the state's military might. Unlike a machine, or a robot that operate with steady productivity, a human being in extreme conditions can make use of the spiritual factor to summon additional strength and energy or otherwise lose either and succumb to panic and fear, for example. This is why concern for the spiritual component of defending the state and its army's morale was and remains to be in the focus of leaders of all nations with no exception.

Spiritual factor is not only something they show concern for but also contend for with enviable persistence and single-minded devotion on the highest governmental level. The old formula "Souls are not unlike the trenches--if we don't take them, the enemy will"--is applicable in this case as in no other. To hold our own and take the enemy's spiritual trenches was and remains to be the political strategy of all states that are concerned about their security.

There has been in recent years much talk about a possible information war, but it is already on: it is being waged for understanding the role and place of Russia in today's world and social progress, for understanding the essence of wars of the future, the role and place of the country's military in protecting its security, for understanding the true and false military experience in this country and abroad, the country's history and prospects of its development. The imposition of one's own values and approaches to assessing reality through peddling a system of myths holds a special place in this uncompromising struggle.

Myth one--a thesis that democracy is absolutely perfect despite the fact that the founding fathers of democracy used to frankly caution about its flaws. Russian philosopher I. Ilyin stressed: "Democracy is the transient state. Lies are tolerated at the very inception of democracy. Democracies originate through demagoguery, base flattery of the interests and instincts of the masses. No social truth can come up from this dirty spring. Individual initiative and self-assertion of human quantity formed the basis of democracy and could not benefit the public entities that were being created in such a crazy atmosphere. Democracy has become a tool of human interests and passions, a scene of struggle for power and domination. Democracy promised sinful carnal desires. Democracy sees power as right rather than duty. And all lofty ideas die in democratic societies. The rule of democracy means the rule of interests of various social groups and their struggle for power. This is precisely the source of degeneration of democracy." (2)

According to another Russian philosopher N. Berdyayev, "democracy is unhelpful for the emergence of strong, striking, creative individuals; it creates a leveling-off social environment which is trying to absorb individuals and subject them to it. Your democratic public opinion is the most terrible form of tyranny, it oppresses human spirit and clips the wings. The old tyranny with its Inquisition and burning at the stake left more scope for human individuality and reckoned with it more." (3)

Nor could "developed" European democracies save their peoples from the two world wars. Had Hitler's crazy world domination plans succeeded, it would have been hard to talk about the future of mankind. For some reason, some people are forgetting today that the "totalitarian Soviet Union" bore the brunt of fighting Nazism.

After the end of the Cold War, 19 democratic, stable and well-to-do states not only blessed but also took part in a military aggression against Yugoslavia weakened and tormented by internal differences. For the first time in all postwar history, barbarous methods of coercion were used against civilians in the very heart of Europe. Even today, modern democracies are no obstacle in the path of brute military force because, in an apt remark of political scientists, democracies cultivate mainly egotism which under certain conditions gives rise to cowardice and treachery. This is characteristic of both states, organizations and private individuals.

Myth two--the idea of automatism and the miraculous power of market relations in resolving all problems of social development, including the shaping of the spiritual factor. There is a hitch or two here, however. First, competition, as an inalienable part of market relations has always been a source of conflicts and wars that negatively impact on spiritual world of individuals and mental state of society. Second, war itself becomes a market and a means of earning substantial sums and not for military-industrial complexes alone. They say there was a conversation between an American G.I. and a Soviet soldier on the Elbe in 1945. "Here's the pillbox we are storming," said the G.I. holding up a dollar bill in response to a story told by the Soviet soldier about a young man called Matrossov, who used his own body to cover the barrel of a German machine gun that was firing out of a pillbox to give his infantrymen a much needed strategic advantage, when his supply of grenades was exhausted. Each time a high-minded soldier makes a heroic effort, what someone who has signed a financial deal with the government wants is to stay alive.

Myth three--the idea that Western countries have a perfect and universal military organization. There's no denying, the military organization of Western countries does have many advantages. Russia is, however, a special country and a mechanical transfer of defense-related advantages of other countries to our own soil is doomed to failure.

Myth four--the idealizing of the role of weapons and military equipment in modern and future wars. Those were nuclear weapons in general at first and then there was the neutron bomb. Now it is precision-guided weapons and weapons based on new physical principles.

The string of myths is designed to prove that Russia is incapable of anything and will never get out of its present sorry state. The plainly suggested course of action is to surrender unconditionally to the winners in the Cold War and everything will be just right. Why spend huge sums on fighting the enemy that is no longer there? Everyone can see the result.

In the words of A. Zinovyev, "the bomb of westernization" exploded in Russia and wrought in it unheard of devastation not only in the sphere of government, economy, ideology and culture but also in human terms. No conquerors or weapons could have accomplished this on such a scale and in such a short time before. Designed (according to its inventors) to defeat communism, "the bomb of westernization" has proven immeasurably more powerful in practical terms: It has destroyed the strong union between the peoples, formed over many centuries who constituted not so long ago the planet's second superpower and aspired to being the leader of the world history, to its foundations common to humanity and having nothing to do with communism. (4)

These and other circumstances of far from positive quality, however, cannot and should not cause apathy and defeatism. On the contrary, they should serve to mobilize all spiritually healthy forces of society into action and searching for effective ways for Russia to pull out of the system crisis and being put back on the list of the great powers. It is only appropriate to cite here the well-known dictum of Sun Tzu: "No matter how critical the situation and circumstances you may find yourself in are, never despair because this is precisely when everything should be feared and you should not be afraid of anything: Just when you are surrounded by all sorts of dangers, you shouldn't fear any of them; it is precisely when you find yourself without any means that it is necessary to count on all means ..." (5)

The spiritual factor does not spring up all of a sudden. It is the result of spontaneous and deliberate purposeful regulation of the process of influencing the world outlook, intellect, morals and mentality of both all people and of separate individuals. The spiritual factor cannot be shaped by a group of highly specialized professionals assigned for the purpose of indoctrinating people. It is created and improved, patiently molded by many institutions of the state, public organizations and, most certainly, by respective departments. States concerned about their security stint no money Or intellectual resources for this purpose.

Automatism, implicit execution of commands and orders and implicit obedience to commanders are certainly necessary. An army, as a military organization, cannot exist without these things. But one should at the same time realize that every member of the military personnel is constantly asking himself: What is all this for? Why should I soldier on in spite of the privations and fatigue of military service? Finally, what is the goal of putting your own life in jeopardy?

At the same time, the values that have took shape in public conscience over the recent decade abound in the cult of wealth, ostentatious luxury and ignoring the value of doing your job, including military duty. They contradict the precepts of selfless work and self-sacrifice, the psychology and morals of team work in using combat equipment and weapons. These values will hardly motivate people to perform heroic deeds. The morale of military personnel is hardly boosted by the inadequate social security, the falling prestige of military service and public humiliation of people in military uniform. Most certainly, this situation is most deplorable and will be soon rectified, I hope.

With the purpose of solving the problem of shaping the moral factor and serious moral and psychological training of military personnel, it is advisable to arrange the main priorities in the following order:

* The molding of real citizens of Russia;

* Patriotic indoctrination;

* The training of real professionals;

* The molding of harmoniously developed individuals who--with their developed intellect, moral and physical health--could successfully perform a wide range of combat missions including unconventional missions that are hot included in textbooks.

The state's new military does not need robots, gladiators or kamikazes. It needs conscientious citizens of Russia thoroughly trained for modern warfare and ready to stand up for their native land using thorough knowledge of military affairs, It is the realization of importance of their cause and ability to give their life for sacred ideas that sets apart real patriots from a mercenaries. Patriotism cannot be had for money. It should be shaped by the entire mode of family and public life and purposeful work inside the Armed Forces.

NOTES:

(1.) See: Voennaia mysl', No. 3, 2003, pp. 72-78.

(2.) Quoted from: A.I. Podberezkin, Russkii put', Moscow, 1999, p. 101.

(3.) Ibid., p. 97.

(4.) A.A. Zinovyev, "Globalizatsiya i Rossiya," Rossiya v global'nom mire: otvety na vyzovy veka, April 2001, p. 6.

(5.) Drevnekitayskaya filosofiya. Sun Tzu. Iskusstvo voyny, Moscow, 1972, pp. 210-211.

Maj. Gen. V.V. CHEBAN

Doctor of Philosophical Sciences