Power Structures and Patterns of Interaction in the Malaysian Army

Marcus Khoo Ghee Han,Bahiyah Abdul Hamid

doi:10.17576/3l-2019-2503-04

Abstract

Study on power structures and their influences on the patterns of interaction used in the military is a rare phenomenon due to strong gatekeeping. Many past researchers have delved only into military culture and organisational communication. The aim of this paper is to present findings of this research gap i.e., on the patterns of interaction used by both commissioned officers and enlisted personnel in the Malaysian Army. It discusses how power structures influence the patterns of interaction used by them. The study investigates how rank structure and chain of command in the military (legitimised authority) influence both commissioned officers and enlisted personnel in deriving their patterns of interaction. It also investigates how the dominant ideology and organisational culture (hegemony) derive their patterns of interaction. This study analyses the transcripts of three audio recordings among commissioned officers and enlisted personnel which were audio recorded from a meet up, meeting and drill training session. The findings indicate that members of the Malaysian Army derive their patterns of interaction through different means. Those different means are not just through coercive means contrary to popular belief but also through regulatory and subtle means. Those different means are determined by the context and speakers. The findings reveal that command and control are essentially linked to many contributing factor and not just merely power per se. Keywords: power; power structures; verbal interaction; coercion; Malaysian Army

Highlights

The notions of command, control, power and authority are all synonymous to the customs and traditions of the military
Apart from that, the analysis indicated that the lateral nature of communication allowed KO to employ power by politics when he interacted with the GOC, President of Mess Committee (PMC) and members of the mess
This study shown how the existing power structures in the military influence the patterns of interaction used by its members

Summary

Introduction

The notions of command, control, power and authority are all synonymous to the customs and traditions of the military. It is highly regarded as a well-trained organisation and ever ready in response to any acts of war or even in non-combat situations which require military intervention. The military culture encompasses the values, norms, traditions and the set of beliefs that differentiates the military from other organisations (Lee, 2003). Due to the existing lack of understanding on the military culture, not many people who are civilians in the general population understand how and why members of the military behave in their own unique way (Redmond et al, 2015). One will consider less on the concealed approach of power which is subdued, setting a certain set of beliefs or ideology within an organisation like the military through power by politics (Machiavelli, 1958) which is very much hegemonic in nature

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion