The role of ion viscosity in the m = 1 internal kink mode in a tokamak
is discussed. It is explained that previous studies of this problem b
ased on the slab approximation are non-adequate since they deal only w
ith slab contribution of transverse viscosity and do not allow for bot
h longitudinal (neoclassical) viscosity inherent in toroidal geometry
and toroidal contribution of transverse viscosity. A small-amplitude o
scillation equation in the singular layer allowing for all the above p
arts of viscosity is given. It is shown that the slab contribution of
the transverse viscosity can be ignored in the conditions of real toka
mak devices since it proves to be small compared with the longitudinal
viscosity. Excitation of the ideal mode due to the longitudinal visco
sity in the banana regime is studied.