Hierarchies of Heroism: Captain Tom, Spitfires, and the Limits of Militarized Vicarious Resilience during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract Across the world, COVID-19 pandemic has seen label of “hero” assigned to an expanded range unexpected figures, from carers supermarket delivery drivers, lauded for their selflessness. In Britain, however, none received levels public veneration experienced by late Captain Sir Tom Moore, who became famous completing a sponsored walk his garden 100th birthday, raising £38.9 million National Health Service charities. What can account resonance elderly war veteran in context global health emergency? Contributing nascent international relations scholarship on vicarious identity, ontological security, and militarism, this article we develop concepts “vicarious resilience” militarism” explain why “Captain Tom” captured British imagination. While objects identification are typically distinguished superior agency, argue that case is interesting because it was not Moore's agency but symbolism made him target identification. Specifically, military facilitated with Britain's mythologized wartime past aimed at assuaging anxieties generated boosting national resilience. However, broader militarized response also reasserted gendered racialized heroism moment when category hero being extended civilian occupations. Finally, note limits militarism responding insecurity, including its tendency generate intergenerational insufficiency rhythmic/episodic character, concluding commenting future trajectory subjectivities.