'Playing war': Norwegian soldiers' experiences of fun and responsibility in Afghanistan.

Abstract

This article discusses Norwegian soldiers' experiences of fun in Afghanistan and probes the meaning of this experience and its condition of possibility. Challenging Western moralities of war, it shows that 'fun in war' can be experienced and represented as ordinary and commonsensical, but also ephemeral and immature. Moving beyond normative and functionalist approaches, it specifically highlights the importance of context, temporality, and soldiers' sense of responsibility and innocence.