The above pictured book(From the World War I museum in Kansas City) argued in 1909 that a major war between the European powers was unlikely due an enormous economic cost and that no one could possibly gain. Norman Angell continued that the economic interdependence between modern industrial states would put the brakes on any catastrophic modern war. The book was widely read and somewhat influential. Thucydides in his chronicle of the Peloponnesian War, 431-401 BC showed the irrational side of decision making in war, jealously, conflicting identities, demagoguery. The powers of Europe should have heeded the two millennium old historian rather the globalist Angell.
Why do people start wars? Books are written in abundance on the causes and consequences of conflicts. The best short answer I’ve found, and I can’t attribute it appropriately, is that people think thy can win them. Would President Xi go for broke with a great gamble on an invasion of Taiwan? The consequences of just that war would be horrendous, let alone the potential to spiral out of control as did the First World War. Will the rational ideas of Norman Angell prevail on the Chinese leadership or will Thucydides’ all too human elements like national pride and identity rule the day?
Steve,
ReplyDeleteYour thought on the reason for war is probably as good as any. It seems since the beginning of time that some group wanted something another group had - land,resources, etc. or they didn't like how the other group acted or believed. I can remember watching two groups of chimps engage in conflict. Maybe it's in our genes. Sometimes it seems that what sets them off isn't something that would do that under different circumstances or at a different time. Smedley Darlington Butler (July 30, 1881 – June 21, 1940) was a United States Marine Corps major general, the highest rank authorized at that time, and at the time of his death the most decorated Marine in U.S. history. He wrote a book called "War is a Racket." He wrote it in 1935 and I recommend it as an interesting perspective from someone who put his life on the line several times.
We seem to be living in a moment when "national pride and identity" trump everything, but I'm obstinately hopeful that this may be the final last gasp of that self-destructive delusion for our country, and let's hope for many others. I'm sure you're right, if enough of us believed that "the fruits of victory would be ashes in our mouths" we'd finally stopped pursuing military solutions to every international problem.
ReplyDeleteI keep intending to visit the WWI Museum in KC, every Spring on my way to the Baseball in Literature and Culture Conference in Ottawa KS. You may have given me the tipping point I needed.