title: The elephant in the room: critical reflections on militarism, war, and their health contingencies.
abstract: This philosophical analysis critically explores an archeology of militarism as an underpinning to multiple forms of violence, especially war. Deconstructing militarism and its discourses reveal it as a pervasive geographical, cultural, political, and psychological presence. New war technologies, related health and environmental problems, injuries, social suffering, and disproportionality in military spending as a threat to health are uncovered. Continuing the dialogue in formal nursing associations, critiquing media complicity in securing consent for war, and reconstructing a nonviolent, healthier world through nonviolent resistance are advocated.
authors.affiliation: Adrian Dominican Sisters Campus, Siena Heights University, Adrian, MI 49221, USA. smcguireop@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: McGuire
authors.forename: Joyceen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Boyle
mesh_terms: D014943:Global Health; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008891:Military Science; D014754:Violence; D014857:Warfare