The WARFUN taboo.

Abstract

The WARFUN taboo rules out the association of war with fun. This article explains why the taboo is particularly entrenched in Germany and demonstrates its effects: the taboo forms part of an anti-militarist political culture and has created soldier models that omit any soldierly qualities that contradict this culture. Oriented towards these models, German soldiers have internalised the taboo as well. However, this contradicts their experience of humour as an integral part of soldier culture. Consequently, soldiers cautiously control what they share with outsiders. Thereby the WARFUN taboo alienates soldiers from the society into which they are supposed to fit.