This text was adapted by The Saylor Foundation under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 0 License without attribution as requested by the work’s original creator or licensee. Preface

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• 
  War and terrorism serve several functions, including the creation of social solidarity.
  
• 
  According to conflict theory, war advances the interests of the military-industrial complex, while militarism takes money away from unmet social needs.
  
• 
  Symbolic interactionism emphasizes the importance of symbols in support for war and terrorism and the experience of civilians and veterans as victims of war.
  

FOR YOUR REVIEW

1. 
   Which one of the three perspectives on war and terrorism do you most favor? Why?
   
2. 
   Why do you think the flag has so much symbolic importance in American society?
   

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[3] Shiller, R. J. (2012, January 15). Spend, spend, spend. It’s the American way. New York Times, BU3.

[4] Mills, C. W. (1956). The power elite. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

[5] Worrell, M. P. (2011). Why nations go to war: A sociology of military conflict. New York, NY: Routledge.

[6] Boggs, C. (2011). Empire versus democracy: The triumph of corporate and military power. New York, NY: Routledge.

[7] Worrell, M. P. (2011). Why nations go to war: A sociology of military conflict. New York, NY: Routledge.

[8] Boggs, C. (2011). Empire versus democracy: The triumph of corporate and military power. New York, NY: Routledge.

[9] Ward, A. (2007, March 2). Yellow ribbons dwindle with war support. The Financial Times. Retrieved from http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/4793da48-c8f7-11db-9f7b-000b5df10621.html#axzz1uqyZTxHR.