The Study of War

The Study of War and Violence

• A war system in international life?
• War, weapons and militarism
• The problem of “enemies”
• Does war have a future?

Problems of the changing definition of war

What do we know about the causes of war?

Question

How does/should what we know about war influence the manner in which we think about (and act upon) peace?

Problems

• The generalizations are at such a “high level” there appears relatively little that you or I could do about them
• Even though the “international system”, the nation, and ruling elites are the observable “causes of wars”, there actually may be an underlying common denominator

Militarism as a Major Factor

• Characteristic of the “system” - nations project power via military force and use it to resolve disputes
• Militarism easily translates to policy – arms and the use of force
• States “can” use it because such militarism is “home grown” - part and parcel of society “too few role models” to replace militarism

What is militarism?

• A spirit or habit of mind that regards the virtues and rigors of “things military” as an individual and a societal (national) ideal
• Reference for military institutions relative to other institutions
• Maintain and use a large military
• Militaristic language and metaphor  (War on terror; war on poverty; football as war)
• Allocation of resources tied to military, weapons and defense sectors
• It biases the resolution of disputes to the use of force
• It biases “security” to the arms loaded rather than “arms” extended and interlinked

Is militarism really a problem?

• Or, do good democratic values in our culture (and others) help?
• Is ROTC the answer?
• Is a volunteer military better than conscription?

When is it a problem?

1. It is a problem for some societies more than others - note democracies vs. others.
2. It is a problem at moments of concern and crisis.
   • Militarism forges a limited set of options for how to preserve security
   • The history of Europe after 1945 was extended deterrence rather than training in non-cooperation
3. It is a problem of basic values, which involves socialization, etc.
4. It is a problem with loyalty to one’s own...

But what about the good values in militarism?

• Loyalty, discipline, patriotism, honor, bravery
• Like other key concepts and ideas in society, aren’t we just falling short on this one? Thus we ought to work harder to get it correct.

How are we to handle the worst of militarism and enemy-making?

• Are the two linked?
• What of the militarism issue ?
• Where is your own compass on this - especially regarding the use of force
  • Promotion of “our way of life” (US in Cold War)
  • Protect “friends” and their way of life (US-Israel)
  • Defending the defenseless (…?)
  • Peacekeeping (…?)
  • Punishing evil-doers (Removal of Saddam Hussein from Iraqi dictatorship)
• What of enemies?
• How to deal with evil in the world?
• What to do with those who really do hate us
• Psychology of enemy-making, as in Sam Keen’s, “Faces of the Enemy”