"War! What Is It Good For?"

Madame:

Look who’s rolling out the catchy titles now! :)

While there is little doubt that the era of mass and instant or near instant communication (and especially the visuals) has had a limiting effect on the universality of war, much of the trend, as documented by political scientist John Mueller, seemed already at hand even at the turn of the 20^th century.  In fact, he puts forth good evidence that the very horror of the world wars only accelerated greatly a trend that was already in motion.  At first, he postulated that it was motion primarily only for that people previously the most continuously warlike in history—the Europeans.  But he has since presented strong evidence that the trend appears to be largely a pan-one and across peoples.

There are two quotes that I think are relevant for inclusion here.  The first is from Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India, and his “observation on the threat of a Japanese attack on British India during the Second World War…: ‘Much as I hated war,’ Nehru wrote, ‘I was in a sense attracted to this corning war. I wanted a tremendous shakeup,’ he continued, ‘something that would force [Indians] to face the reality of today and outgrow the past which clung to them so tenaciously. Vast numbers would die’ in such a war, he admitted, but this was necessary, for, he concluded, quoting the German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche,  ‘only where there are graves are there resurrections.’” (as cited in Rahul Sagar, “State of mind: what kind of power will India become?” International Affairs, 85: 4 (2009), page 8)

The second is from the above author himself, on the same page: “Nor should the state’s focus be on the cultivation of military power. This is not only inappropriate, in the light of India’s acute developmental needs, but also unnecessary, since the interdependence fostered by globalization rewards economic power and makes violent conflict unprofitable.”

Globalization and “soft power,” therefore, also appear to have had quite the modifying effect on the universality of war.

As for seeing the trend be confirmed, I would not speculate, for both the political scientist and historian in me know all too well the wrenches that un-forecast or mis-forecast events can toss!

And as for the up and coming generations, and their strategizing, delaying gratification, and planning well, they will probably be deficient until some personal and/or system shock of sufficient strength intervenes.   Rather like their forebears.  :)  Of course, it appears to the cadre of those who are preceding them in chronology that the current whippersnappers crop may be a bit more deficient in those above traits than usual!  LOL And indeed they may be, or perhaps the present world is both a more forgiving and less forgiving one where those are concerned.  The variables, the variables! :)

We definitely live in interesting times!