“Tomorrow happens”. Solidarity against militarisation, the lust for destruction and war

Keynote talk followed by a discussion

Language: German
Duration: 20 mins
In person

What’s it about?

Militarisation – the lust for destruction – solidarity

We are currently witnessing massive processes of social transformation, as the military increasingly dominates civilian life through processes of militarisation – whether implicit or explicit, measured or radical – which are penetrating socially relevant spheres such as education, research and public discourse, with the ultimate aim of encompassing all social relationships in order to build the resilience of the nation-state. Militarism as an ideology encompasses certain beliefs regarding defence, war, the use of force, a willingness to make sacrifices, masculinity, femininity and warfare, which are perceived as ‘natural’ and therefore indispensable (Thomas/Virchow 2015). This military mindset is reflected in a recent large-scale ‘recruitment campaign’ by the Austrian Armed Forces aimed at attracting soldiers, which has promoted itself in the media and public sphere through a dedicated programme to support women as part of its equality policy and equal treatment initiatives. The focus has now moved beyond career options and is directed towards a proposed compulsory military service for women * in the name of ‘equality in defence’ (Voglmayr 2025).

Discussion: How can we free ourselves from militarised domination?

The starting point is a violent capitalist system which not only produces endless growth but must also be seen as a destructive mode of production (Redecker 2025). This, in turn, leads to a destructive relationship with the world, which gives rise to neoliberal harshness, competition, collective insecurity, militarisation and, not least, wars. In view of this global situation, many of us develop emotions such as anger, indignation, feelings of powerlessness and frustration; we must therefore ask ourselves how we can channel these emotional states in a politically productive way and translate them into actions based on solidarity. In this context, Hipfl (2024) speaks of ‘affective solidarities’ that no longer relate to (feminist) identities, but rather draw on diverse actors who share experiences of suffering and violence with those who are (or are not) directly affected, and call for joint action. If we wish to see a large anti-militarist movement, then we should create ‘spaces of solidarity’ in which people from different backgrounds, with different knowledge and experiences, can contribute beyond the logic of identity.

Aims of this session

How can we resist militarised rule? What spaces of solidarity can we create, and what forms of counter-publics can we develop to counter the implicit and explicit processes of militarisation in society?