Posted on Jul 13, 2015
What is the largest cause of war throughout history?
35.6K
289
107
15
15
0
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?
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 43
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.
(1)
(0)
CW3 (Join to see)
MAJ Keira Brennan I think you bring up a very powerful point regarding the justification of actions in many conflicts. If you have to go out of your way to explain or justify your actions they may not be right.
(0)
(0)
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.
(1)
(0)
CW3 (Join to see)
Very harsh but honest! I think you highlight an important difference between causes and justifications.
(1)
(0)
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.
(1)
(0)
CW3 (Join to see)
I think you see the relation between the causes very clearly. If you tip the scale one way something else has to give.
(0)
(0)
One can say all of the above. I feel in the old days, it leaned more towards power and resources.
(1)
(0)
CW3 (Join to see)
I would say money and resources are one and the same. If you research you will find that resources is at the top of the list.
(1)
(0)
SPC Tim Grudzinski
Religious fundamentalism is up there too. Even if it is only a disguise for money grubbing.
(0)
(0)
(1)
(0)
SPC (Join to see)
It is essentially the conduit for the agenda of a few with power. Not just with wealth, but also influence.
(0)
(0)
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.
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.
(1)
(0)
Read This Next


Warfare
Politics
Social
Religion
