What Is Warrior Culture?

I came across an article recently in which the LAPD was criticized for having a "warrior culture". The term was used pejoratively to mean a subculture that considers itself separate from mainstream society and which will resort to violent means to assert control even if other means are available. In reality, I assume that all major police departments have a warrior mindset given that we provide them with a variety of tools clearly meant to do battle: guns, special vehicles, armor, etc.

The idea of a warrior culture could encompass everything from ancient Sparta, the nomads of the Eurasian steppes, the Samurai, various branches of the modern military, police departments, and probably even certain criminal organizations if the idea is stretched thin enough. The characteristics of the warrior culture seem to include

• There is a warrior caste that is clearly distinct from the rest of the society
• There is a code to which the warrior is expected to adhere
• The group takes precedence over the individual
• The warrior has tools or techniques that are not available to the general population, because of lack of expertise or legal restriction

Although the warrior code will often contain concepts of honor and morality, i would think that the idea of a warrior culture is morally neutral. However, the idea seems to be interpreted through a political lens. Conservatives seem to view warrior culture as a generally honorable and worthy thing, while liberals see a dangerous, use-violence-first mentality. Contrast for example, this essay at the military site BlackFive with this essay by Barbara Ehrenreich from Time magazine.

My personal view is that a warrior culture is not either a morally superior subset of society, or a cultural trait that emphasizes revenge, honor, and glory. Rather a warrior culture is a society or subculture that focuses on the practice and refinement of martial methods to achieve some end for that society. This might manifest itself in a nation that wants to aggressively expand its boundaries and resources, or it might result in an organization that is more cautious about the use of force than society in general. I think the latter is often true of the American military. Whether it's Iraq or Darfur or Bosnia, the educated warrior in the military usually understands the consequences of his or her actions better than the people calling on them to perform those actions.

The world of sport fighting and martial arts training can't really be considered a warrior culture even though a contribution is ostensibly made to the evolution of martial arts, because the focus is on the individual. I can't blame commentators when they describe a fighter, or even a football player, as a "warrior", but the other key distinction of a warrior culture is that of course its members often die, sometimes anonymously and without much reward.