Routledge War, Image and Legitimacy - Military History Book

Explore the profound impact of visual media on modern combat with War, Image and Legitimacy: Viewing Contemporary Conflict. Published by Routledge as part of the Contemporary Security Studies series, this book investigates how moving-image representations shape our understanding of global warfare. It looks at how specific visual moments can influence the legitimacy, conduct, and eventual outcome of military operations. Through a detailed examination of defining moments, the text analyzes how iconic imagery defines contemporary conflict. This includes the collapsing Twin Towers on September 11, the hooded figure at Abu Ghraib, and images of beheadings on the internet. It also covers the emaciated figures in Bosnian-Serb concentration camps and the visual impact of US-led air bombardments in Baghdad. This work provides a deep look into how visual media functions within the landscape of modern military history and security studies.