Collective Identity and Promotion Prospects in the South Korean Army. (April 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kim, Insoo; Crabb, Tyler
• Is Part Of: Armed forces and society. Volume 40:Number 2(2014:Apr.)
• Page Start: 295
• Page End: 309
• Publication Date: 2014-04
• Subjects: South Korea -- officer corps -- promotion prospects -- collective identity -- social resources; Sociology, Military -- Periodicals; Sociology, Military -- United States -- Periodicals; Armed Forces -- Periodicals; United States -- Armed Forces -- Periodicals; 306.27
• DOI: 10.1177/0095327X12466037
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0095-327X

Abstract

This study examines how collective identity based around military school ties influences an individual officer's achievement in the military. The central premise of this study is that if collective identity can form the basis for fragmented social networks in the South Korean officer corps, it can result in different opportunities for members within different networks. The results presented here demonstrate that collective identities are important explanatory factors to account for this exchange of social resources. All else being equal, the exchange of instrumental and material resources is more likely between military officers who graduated from the same civilian or military school.