What is the largest cause of war throughout history?

2015-07-13T10:45:21-04:00

World history is filled with conflicts arising since the start of recorded history. What do you think the largest cause of war has been throughout history? Do you think the causes have changed over time, or are we still fighting for the same reasons that just look a little different? What do you think will cause the next large scale conflict?

Response by SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. made Jul 13 at 2015 10:46 AM

2015-07-13T10:46:34-04:00

How about "all of the above"?

Response by COL Ted Mc made Jul 13 at 2015 10:50 AM

2015-07-13T10:50:38-04:00

Greed - or its flip side self-protection.

Response by SCPO David Lockwood made Jul 13 at 2015 10:53 AM

2015-07-13T10:53:03-04:00

Religion.

Response by SSG Izzy Abbass made Jul 13 at 2015 10:53 AM

2015-07-13T10:53:31-04:00

The basis for religion and politics is about Power.

Response by COL Mikel J. Burroughs made Jul 13 at 2015 10:54 AM

2015-07-13T10:54:08-04:00

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member I would have to say that Religious Ideology would have accounts for the Largest wars and war going back to the beginning of mankind (BC and AD).

Response by SGM Steve Wettstein made Jul 13 at 2015 10:59 AM

2015-07-13T10:59:56-04:00

I was torn between Revenge (Hitler and WWII) and Religion (most other wars).

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Jul 13 at 2015 11:18 AM

2015-07-13T11:18:52-04:00

I'm going to go with religion seeing as we fought over the Holy Land in Jerusalem for how many centuries and Islam is fighting amongst itself over Shia and Suni ways of thought and the whole Protestants vs. Catholic thing in England. I think all have been major causes but religion just kind of sticks out more.

Response by LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow made Jul 13 at 2015 11:39 AM

2015-07-13T11:39:23-04:00

Ultimately though, religion is an excuse. Wars are usually fought over Imperialism. That ultimately boils down to national leaders with big egos, whether it's a "religious" war or not. Some wars have been fought on ideology, but not many...

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jul 13 at 2015 12:27 PM

2015-07-13T12:27:25-04:00

Leaders of nations who have the notion to own what is not theirs.

Response by Maj Chris Nelson made Jul 13 at 2015 12:31 PM

2015-07-13T12:31:23-04:00

This is tough..... I choose the Religious Ideology....but I think it is a very close race between that and Resources....

Response by SGT Don Matyja made Jul 13 at 2015 1:31 PM

2015-07-13T13:31:08-04:00

More people have Died in the name of a god or multiple god's than any other thing threw in history

Response by SPC David S. made Jul 13 at 2015 1:55 PM

2015-07-13T13:55:54-04:00

Of the 1,763 major conflicts in recorded history, only 123 of them can be classified as having been fought over religious differences - number one culprit is politics - the earlier conflicts were about wealth (power) or resources. However we have shifted to politics - However i feel the next big one will be about power (1% controlling 99% of the wealth).

Response by SSG (ret) William Martin made Jul 13 at 2015 1:57 PM

2015-07-13T13:57:18-04:00

One guy threw a spear and then two guys threw a spear and soon two large villages started fighting.

Response by LCpl Mark Lefler made Jul 13 at 2015 2:20 PM

2015-07-13T14:20:11-04:00

Greed, in general terms, regardless if its for power, religion, politics, it all comes down to greed.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jul 13 at 2015 2:24 PM

2015-07-13T14:24:49-04:00

Religion, Revolution, creating a buffer, taking what is not yours, expanding the empire, being attacked, ideology, and following the covenants of alliances.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 13 at 2015 2:32 PM

2015-07-13T14:32:39-04:00

All of the above!!! Hey, I once smacked a younger brother for eating my Popsicle. Does that count?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 13 at 2015 3:51 PM

2015-07-13T15:51:24-04:00

I would have to say that it is resources. As far back as I can push through my history books, most wars were started in order to expand territory, however, power would be a very close second. These can be seen through much of the wars fought in BCE periods such as the Punic Wars, Greco-Persian Wars as well as many CE wars such much of the Three Kingdoms period in China and Korea, all though the Crusades up to your modern-era wars (WWII, Vietnam, Korea).

Response by SSG John Jensen made Jul 13 at 2015 4:35 PM

2015-07-13T16:35:07-04:00

population pressure for more land/resources - food/fuel - access to previous, like ocean access, ancient times when they worked the land to death and then went for more land, cut down all of the trees and then invaded for more forests( fuel, ships, building), and getting rid of excess sons so that the old guys could have more young women

Response by PO1 John Miller made Jul 13 at 2015 5:00 PM

2015-07-13T17:00:32-04:00

Can you list a new choice; "All of the above?"
But honestly, I think that PEOPLE are the number 1 cause of war!

Response by MSgt Erik Copp made Jul 13 at 2015 5:05 PM

2015-07-13T17:05:23-04:00

Women and money. No offense to women here.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 13 at 2015 6:19 PM

2015-07-13T18:19:01-04:00

Much of how we all were influenced in our lives play a defining part of what we think or believe. I would say Maslow's hierarchy of needs plays a large part in just about every war past, present and future. Answers, even the list of answers to choose from, are influenced by our individual understanding of the question. Regardless of the reason to start a war, the end is distorted as to why it started in the first place.

Response by SSG Gerhard S. made Jul 13 at 2015 6:38 PM

2015-07-13T18:38:24-04:00

The poll answers cover the gamut, no ONE can be named as a primary cause of war, historically. ALL are valid together, none are comprehensive on their own.

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Jul 13 at 2015 7:08 PM

2015-07-13T19:08:46-04:00

Sorry. You missed one option. "Weakness" Nothing inspires war more than the perception that your target is weak. Nothing invites aggression more than weakness. I surprised you missed this. We are living in the age of American weakness and aggression is busting out all over...

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 13 at 2015 7:11 PM

2015-07-13T19:11:36-04:00

I voted for power. Religion, Politics, and Resources are runners up, but I think power is behind several of these as well -- religion and politics, in particular.

Response by Maj Mike Sciales made Jul 13 at 2015 7:13 PM

2015-07-13T19:13:30-04:00

War is "a failure of diplomacy." You have something I want. I can offer you something in exchange. That would be commerce and diplomacy. If you decline my choice is to leave it be or take what I want. Any excuse used is just a rationale for the aggression. Religious wars are no exception, just the rationale.

Response by PO2 Peter Klein made Jul 13 at 2015 7:33 PM

2015-07-13T19:33:13-04:00

Power is a strong influence. Germany in 1914 wanted to exert power to show it wasn't going to let someone killed the Arch Duke will they did nothing. Look at our one War of Independence. Our forefathers didn't like the power that was being exerted over them.

Response by COL Charles Williams made Jul 14 at 2015 12:52 AM

2015-07-14T00:52:10-04:00

I am guessing religion... Do I win?

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 14 at 2015 1:18 AM

2015-07-14T01:18:32-04:00

I'll take People for 500 . . .

But if we want to break it down I believe "Power" is the most correct answer, because everything else can fit under its umbrella. *Revenge has to come from an initial grievance, Politics is the "science" of exerting influence and power through social means, religious issues come about because some believe that their side being right is important enough to come at the expense of others, and finally resources are another form of power as having control of them is a form of power.

In the end it all comes down to the desire to be in charge and calling the shots, the belief that "you" should be on the throne and not "them," typically with complete disregard for the fact that neither party is qualified to rule and dominate the other.

Humans are equal to each other, and equals cannot rule over their equals. So, it is the quest for power, to become greater than one's equals, that is the root cause of war (although it actually goes a lot farther than that) which is a means of forcing dominance through force and strength of arms.

*This is a simple overview, if you want something broken out in detail let me know.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 14 at 2015 4:57 AM

2015-07-14T04:57:50-04:00

Religion

Response by SPC Tim Grudzinski made Jul 14 at 2015 9:24 AM

2015-07-14T09:24:52-04:00

Same three things start a war. Religion, money, and resources.

Response by SrA Edward Vong made Jul 14 at 2015 12:24 PM

2015-07-14T12:24:56-04:00

One can say all of the above. I feel in the old days, it leaned more towards power and resources.

Response by PO1 Glenn Boucher made Jul 14 at 2015 2:29 PM

2015-07-14T14:29:53-04:00

I voted Power, but I see how every other category would also come into play. If your going to start a war to assert your control then your also looking at the control of resources, geopolitical influences, religious ideology, and sometimes revenge can play a factor.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 14 at 2015 2:41 PM

2015-07-14T14:41:21-04:00

A People’s suffering, pain and misery, caused by anything from poor resource management to natural disaster, and then nursed by a party or person who promises a solution, usually with their own personal motive: be it power, money… or anything left to the imagination. Religion is usually the scapegoat but we’ve seen many others.

Response by MSgt Manuel Diaz made Jul 14 at 2015 3:49 PM

2015-07-14T15:49:10-04:00

Wanting whatever we ran out of, that they got plenty of.

Response by LCpl Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 14 at 2015 4:55 PM

2015-07-14T16:55:24-04:00

The causes for war are almost universally population pressure and the thirst for resources. Don't mistake the cause of war for the justification. For example the Crusades were more about getting rid of extraneous third sons who were causing problems in Europe and controlling trade routes then they were about religion. True believers are just VERY useful tools to the shrewd political leader who uses "the word of god" as a propaganda tool.

Response by MAJ Keira Brennan made Jul 14 at 2015 5:15 PM

2015-07-14T17:15:50-04:00

I can't think of a time when religion was not a dominant player in war and conflict or at the very least used to "justify" a position by one or more parties.

Response by SPC Margaret Higgins made Jul 14 at 2015 5:29 PM

2015-07-14T17:29:14-04:00

General Dwight D Eisenhower: "We never learn."
Power.

Response by Sgt Den OBrien made Jul 15 at 2015 3:56 AM

2015-07-15T03:56:03-04:00

Chubby chicks.....

Response by SGT David T. made Jul 15 at 2015 11:14 AM

2015-07-15T11:14:09-04:00

"War is the continuation of politics through other means". Clausewitz. Think about it for a minute. In every case one group of people wants another group to do or stop doing something. It is all political. Religion, economics and so on are little more than propaganda reasons to get popular support.

Response by CPO Joseph Grant made Jul 15 at 2015 1:56 PM

2015-07-15T13:56:43-04:00

Is say, it's economic, but that is power

Response by Cpl Brett Wagner made Jul 15 at 2015 4:55 PM

2015-07-15T16:55:32-04:00

I voted for Resources because it came closet to my one word answer MONEY. If you have not already read it I highly suggest "War is a Racket" by Smedley Butler two time reciepiant of the Medal of Honor.

Response by CPT Pedro Meza made Jul 15 at 2015 5:48 PM

2015-07-15T17:48:35-04:00

Selfish men wanting more and no one disagreeing with them.

Response by SFC Kevin Presser made Jul 15 at 2015 10:16 PM

2015-07-15T22:16:13-04:00

I believe that most wars fought throughout history have been about resources, or in recent history - economics. There are exceptions such as the Middle East, but most conflicts have been about resources.

Response by PO2 Robert Cuminale made Jul 16 at 2015 1:09 AM

2015-07-16T01:09:11-04:00

The source of all conflict is pride. In the Garden the serpent convinced Eve she would be as wise as God. The European conflicts of the past were about seizing land belonging to others so they could become as wealthy and powerful. The brothers and cousins who felt more entitled to the crown caused almost all the wars in Europe. The Reformation challenges to the Papacy's assumed authority caused Catholic Europe to make war on Protestants. Henry VIII's pride in his regime and wanting it to continue through a son caused schism in England. The motivating force behind all conflict is pride.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 7 at 2015 5:42 PM

2015-08-07T17:42:16-04:00

Fear, fear that you will not have enough power... followed by greed or lust for power. The rest is how you justify your actions.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Oct 13 at 2015 3:10 PM

2015-10-13T15:10:34-04:00

My guess is wealth and resources.

Response by CW3 Kevin Storm made Feb 16 at 2016 10:48 AM

2016-02-16T10:48:27-05:00

I am for Greed