Conflict and war have over millennia, shaped human civilization. While armed conflict has a role in ensuring peace and stability, its power to achieve this purpose has been heavily undermined by the proliferation of military technology/weapons (Lyons 74). It is, therefore, imperative to re-invent the role of war in the modern world if the world has to move away from the ever-growing costs of war. It has become an inescapable and inalienable part of the human condition. War, which describes organized and lasting armed conflict by state and non-state parties, characterized by extreme destruction of property, violence and death. While many people appreciate the sheer human and other costs of waging armed conflicts, its place in promoting peace, freedom, and even prosperity is not lost on many people.
With advancements in military and other technologies, modern wars have become less costly to governments, but with debilitating consequences to civilians and property. This is not least because the low combat-related death rates, which mean that the human costs of conflict to militaries is markedly reduced, which in turn encourages the likelihood of governments resorting to armed conflict. World War is perhaps one of the best embodiments of the costs and possible benefits of war. The conditions leading up to WWII stemmed from the unresolved issues (actual and perceived injustices of the settlement that ended WWI) from WWI and the difficulty economic issues brought on by the Great Depression. By the close of War, an estimated 2.5% of the global population at the time had been decimated not only in combat, but through brutal criminalities such as the Holocaust that saw an approximate six million Jews killed. Further, by the end of the War, the global economy had practically collapsed, and much of the infrastructure either neglected or destroyed, along with billions worth of other property. On the other hand, the WWII helped rid the world of a murderous Nazi regime, besides countering the rise of fascism and contributing to the emergence of global peace and stability.
These benefits have, however, come under threat from many corners. To begin with, war (and the possibility of it) has triggered off unending arms races among countries including nuclear arms races. In addition, proliferation of arms/weapons across the world has produced an even more unstable world than had been anticipated, as perhaps best emphasized by the number and scale of on-going wars in Ukraine, the Middle East, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola, and Afghanistan. Modern warfare has come to include asymmetric wars (including guerrilla warfare), civil conflicts, chemical warfare, nuclear warfare, conventional warfare, and unconventional conflicts (such terrorism). It is against this background that the value of armed conflict has come under scrutiny. Proponents of war point to its practicality in ensuring peace/stability, especially because its dire costs encourage parties to seek other dispute resolution mechanisms. In addition, defence/military technology and weapon/equipment industry plays a considerable role in major economies. Defence spending comprises an important injection into economies, which in turn encourages growth and development, effectively establishing an important position for war/militaries.
On the other extreme, however, there has been the emergence of various forms of pacifist philosophies, which conceive armed conflict and other forms of violence as unjustifiable and solvable by peaceful alternatives. Proponents of pacifism include many religious faiths, individuals who believe in the sanctity of life, and those who argue that war is unnecessarily destructive and costly. Pacifism includes deliberate attempts to promote justice, human rights, equity and morality as a key component in eliminating the motivation for war. However, proponents of war point to the failure of institutions such as the United Nations and religious organizations in ensuring that peace prevails as an illustration of pacifism’s failure. Pacifism is seen as both impractical and utopian. Pacifism also faces a challenge in the form of powerful interests by governments, militaries, and private corporations among others, which are keen to ensure that they protect the status quo.
Personal Interest
War is inescapable in the modern world. I am personally shaken by the human costs of war. In Syria and Iraq for instance, innocent civilians (including women and children) have come under attack and forced to flee their homes. I feel too many resources are invested in militaries (even in peacetime) that could support other economic activities. Further, the rise of terrorism and unconventional war, perhaps best emphasized by the egregious beheadings by ISIS militants in Iraq/Syria point to the need for a different approach, I do not support pacifism though. I believe it is not possible roll back millennia of war in human civilization just now, but I think global institutions such as the United Nations must be strengthened and empowered to deal with the threats to global peace. A move away from militarization of individual countries would help defuse the threat and effects of war and thus ensure greater peace and stability.
Works Cited
BBC News. Syria Conflict. 2 Sept 2014. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-17258397. 5 Oct 2014.
Kitchen, Martin. The Treaty of Versailles and its Consequences. New York: Longman, 2000. Print.
Lyons, Paul. American Pacificism: Oceania in the U.S. Imagination. London: Routledge, 2006. Web.
