Considering the Declarative and Non-Declarative Aspects of Military Police Culture

Abstract

Research objective: This essay argues that the cultural analysis of military police organizations must adopt a methodological path that considers the non-declarative aspect of culture, going beyond what is declared verbally and formally, focusing on the culture manifested in everyday situations.

Theoretical framework: Given the absence of such debate in the literature on culture in police organizations, we look to the theory of culture as a dual process for answers to the conflicts and contradictions that emerge in everyday police practice.

Results: In the conception that culture as cognition manifests itself in declarative and non-declarative ways, we seek to build an analytical and methodological path to access such ways. Because these modes operate in distinct ways in the enculturation process, we offer specific suggestions regarding the acquisition, storage, processing, and use of culture. We also show that there are phenomena of interest and possible investigations.

Originality: Understanding how culture manifests itself through cognitive cultural schemes has enabled new ways of thinking about cultural analysis. The originality of such perspectives could contribute to studies of organizations, especially when linked to public security.

Theoretical and practical contributions: The cultural analysis of military police organizations, from the perspective of methodological paths suggested here, can challenge the assumptions underlying the existing literature, enabling more useful and precise research and definitions.