Applying Political Knowledge in Modern Combat: How the U.S. Military Can Use Social Science to Achieve Cross-Cultural Competency

Culture is a prominent theme in U.S. military doctrine, and the Department of Defense has invested much effort in improving the cultural competency of military professionals. This article utilizes first-person reflections of the author, a political scientist who worked in an advisory capacity for the Army in Afghanistan in 2012, to support arguments for applying the social sciences as a way to address the need for improved cultural competency training provided to military personnel. Observations are described, followed by brief analyses of how knowledge of social science concepts, methods, and theories proved to be an instrumental means through which the author’s missions were understood at the time and ultimately conducted in a manner that improved the chances of success. This article therefore provides a unique perspective on the value of social science education, specifically political science, to obtain cultural competency among military personnel engaged in modern combat operations.