Combat Motivation

This research paper began as a quest to examine the developmental foundations in each person’s life which would build or support motivation in physical conflict situations, or more specifically – combat. The question I was attempting to answer was whether or not the motivation provided by a political or non-religious value system was greater or lesser than that provided by or based upon a religious value system. Obviously such information is directly related to the current wars raging in Afghanistan and Iraq, not to mention future terror attacks and any other potential conflict that may erupt in the Middle East, or any other area where the majority of the population is of a fanatical Muslim sect.

As our soldiers – an all volunteer force, which we will later see matters quite a bit – battle against or try to enforce a peace upon “soldiers” driven by a religious belief system identified as the Wahhabist Muslim faith, it is important for us to analyze and understand the impact human development, cultural outlooks, varying value systems and other factors have on the motivation our troops take into the fight. Which is more empowering?