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Eradicating the Use of Child Soldiers: Framings of Child Soldiery in Canadian Forces Joint Doctrine Note 2017-01 Child Soldiers.

Bach, Maja Tholstrup LU (2018) SOLM02 20181
Department of Sociology of Law
Abstract
The aim of the study was to examine the problem representations embedded in Canadian Forces Joint Doctrine Note 2017-01 Child Soldiers, published by the Government of Canada in March 2017. It is the first ever document to provide armed forces with clear instructions on how to interact with child soldiers. The study took the form of a single instrumental case study carried out through the application of Bacchi’s “What’s the problem represented to be”-approach to uncovering frames in policy documents. The empirical material consisted of the joint doctrine note and a semi-structured interview with Dr. Shelly Whitman of the Roméo Dallaire Child Soldiers Initiative. The analysis centered on the research question “How do frames embedded within... (More)
The aim of the study was to examine the problem representations embedded in Canadian Forces Joint Doctrine Note 2017-01 Child Soldiers, published by the Government of Canada in March 2017. It is the first ever document to provide armed forces with clear instructions on how to interact with child soldiers. The study took the form of a single instrumental case study carried out through the application of Bacchi’s “What’s the problem represented to be”-approach to uncovering frames in policy documents. The empirical material consisted of the joint doctrine note and a semi-structured interview with Dr. Shelly Whitman of the Roméo Dallaire Child Soldiers Initiative. The analysis centered on the research question “How do frames embedded within Joint Doctrine Note 2017-01 shape the representation of the recruitment and use of child soldiers in the global South as a problem that the Canadian Armed Forces needs to address?” Theoretically, the study relied on a combination of postcolonial theories and legal pluralism. The study concluded that the understanding of child soldiery embedded in the joint doctrine note relies on framing international law as ineffective due to a lack of enforcement; a critique of the protectionist discourses surrounding child soldiers; and a problematization of the detrimental effects of encounters with child soldiers on the mental health of soldiers. The joint doctrine note is framed as a holistic and pragmatic alternative to existing military doctrine as it facilitates a shift in discursive practices; encourages armed forces to consider child soldiers; and enhances the mental resiliency of soldiers by promoting awareness of encounters with child soldiers. (Less)
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author
Bach, Maja Tholstrup LU
supervisor
organization
course
SOLM02 20181
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Child soldiers, children and armed conflict, military doctrine, postcolonialism, legal pluralism, Canadian Armed Forces, international law, peacekeeping.
language
English
id
8946497
date added to LUP
2018-06-25 13:32:09
date last changed
2018-06-25 13:32:09
@misc{8946497,
  abstract     = {{The aim of the study was to examine the problem representations embedded in Canadian Forces Joint Doctrine Note 2017-01 Child Soldiers, published by the Government of Canada in March 2017. It is the first ever document to provide armed forces with clear instructions on how to interact with child soldiers. The study took the form of a single instrumental case study carried out through the application of Bacchi’s “What’s the problem represented to be”-approach to uncovering frames in policy documents. The empirical material consisted of the joint doctrine note and a semi-structured interview with Dr. Shelly Whitman of the Roméo Dallaire Child Soldiers Initiative. The analysis centered on the research question “How do frames embedded within Joint Doctrine Note 2017-01 shape the representation of the recruitment and use of child soldiers in the global South as a problem that the Canadian Armed Forces needs to address?” Theoretically, the study relied on a combination of postcolonial theories and legal pluralism. The study concluded that the understanding of child soldiery embedded in the joint doctrine note relies on framing international law as ineffective due to a lack of enforcement; a critique of the protectionist discourses surrounding child soldiers; and a problematization of the detrimental effects of encounters with child soldiers on the mental health of soldiers. The joint doctrine note is framed as a holistic and pragmatic alternative to existing military doctrine as it facilitates a shift in discursive practices; encourages armed forces to consider child soldiers; and enhances the mental resiliency of soldiers by promoting awareness of encounters with child soldiers.}},
  author       = {{Bach, Maja Tholstrup}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Eradicating the Use of Child Soldiers: Framings of Child Soldiery in Canadian Forces Joint Doctrine Note 2017-01 Child Soldiers.}},
  year         = {{2018}},
}