War is the worst thing human beings do. Conflicts cause enormous death and destruction. However, wars are also a defining part of human history. There have always been wars. Although today we make enormous efforts to prevent wars and bring conflicts to a close, still wars continue. But will there ever be a time when these efforts truly succeed and we see an end to war? Definitely not, in fact… there will always be wars, and we’ll explain why…
1. People Have Always Fought Wars
A first reason why there will always be wars is because throughout human history people have always fought each other.
Conflict between humans is an old as time. There has never been a period of human history when all wars stopped. Many would argue that it is in human nature to fight and kill each other. No matter the time period, or place in history, human beings have formed groups and attacked each other. The root causes of human conflict go deep, and this is one reason why we will never completely end war.
The fact that human beings have always fought conflicts means there will always be wars. Human nature has not changed. Although civilization has softened some aspects of the human condition, and in the modern world there are significantly less wars than in almost any period of history, fighting and conflict are still natural ways for people to resolve their differences.
We may like to think that we are more civilized than our predecessors, but the fact that there has always been war means, sadly, there will always be war.
2. The World Will Always Be Unequal
A second reason why there will always be war is because the world will remain a highly unequal place.
One of the key drivers of conflicts is inequality. This can be inequality within a nation – between rich and poor people, or between countries – with some countries being economically successful and / or having abundant resources, and more impoverished nations lacking the resources they need.
It is impossible to entirely remove inequality from the world. Previous attempts to create more equal societies have often resulted in more conflict and death, not less. The nations of the world also cannot be made equal, as factors such as geography, culture and political systems, can all be a help or hindrance for a nation’s development.
As it is not possible to make the world entirely equal, it means that there will always be some war. There will always be nations, or groups of people, that see conflict as way to correct inequality and seize resources from others that have more.
3. People Will Always Try And Seize Others Land
A third reason why there will always be wars is because there will always be attempts to take land from others.
Throughout history, and into the present day, nations have looked at their neighbors and eyed their lands and resources. Historically, wars of conquest were common and nations would actively engage in conflicts to take over new territory – even if that involved fighting and defeating the people on that land. Into the present day, we have not been able to stop wars of conquest.
As long as countries feel they have the military might, and can withstand the repercussions from other nations, we will have countries that invade and try and conquer others. This means there will always be wars.
It is simply impossible to create a global order that could prevent wars of conquest. The world is full of countries claiming territory in other nations and it is it not possible to stop some nations from taking action to seize it. As a result, there are always going to be conflicts.
4. Countries Will Always Need To Defend Themselves
Another reason why there will always be wars is because countries will always need to defend themselves.
As we’ve discussed, there will always be nations, or armed groups, that take action in order to seize the resources of another nation or group. Because of this fact, defense will always play a major role for almost every nation. Governments will also spend significant sums on arms in order to protect their populations, and themselves, from aggression. As a result, any attack by another country or armed group will always result in a war.
As well as countries using their armed forces to deter aggressions and fight off attacks, there will also be some nations that use their militaries to take pre-emptive actions against others that they feel threaten them. Essentially, starting a war as a means of defense has been used throughout history. It is not a tactic that nations will cease to use, and as a result there will always be conflicts between countries.
5. There Will Always Be Economic Benefits To War
A further reason why there will always be war is because there will always be economic benefits to going to war.
For all of history one of the key drivers of wars has been the economic rewards countries can get by winning conflicts. For example, nations, or groups, that win wars can take land and resources, seize power, receive reparations or expand their economies. Benefits such as these are still present today, and so some see going to war as being worth it. As long as this is the case, there will always be wars.
It’s just not possible to make the costs of war so great that no nation would undertake it. Although in the modern world attempts have been made to inflict economic damage on countries that start wars, some nations simply see the possible benefits of winning a war as out-weighing the negatives. As a result, there are always going to be countries that choose war over peace.
6. War Has Always Been Romanticized
One reason why there will always be wars is because war is so romanticised.
For centuries now almost every culture in the world has had an overly romantic view of war. Notions of heroism, sacrifice, patriotism and pride are all deeply connected to our idea of battle. These connections are long-standing and ingrained – they play a major role in forming how individuals, and societies, feel about war. As long as war is romanticized, there will always be those who wish to pursue it.
Although art and culture in recent decades has begun to be more critical of war – especially with film and TVs highlighting more realistically the horrific affects of war, still war is romanticized by many. There are those with a vested interest in ensuring war is still seen as heroic and patriotic, and these voices are often dominant. As long as the message is communicated that war is in any way romantic, there are always going to conflicts.
7. Countries Will Always Have Armies
A final reason why there will always be war is because nations will always have armies.
Almost every country in the world has an armed forces. Many nations spend significant proportions of their resources of funding their militaries. Countries do not only spend enormously on recruiting, training and equipping their armies, air forces and navies, but also spend huge sums of developing new military technologies in order to give them an advantages against potential foes.
The fact that almost every nation is pouring resources into their militaries, and see having a large and strong armed forces as a key part of their national identity, means there are always going to be conflicts. Essentially, why have an army if you are never going to use it?
Nations will always be in competition with each other. In the modern global order, this competition remains mostly economic and focusses on businesses and trade. However, with so many hugely powerful armies in the world, there are always going to be countries that use their militaries against their competitors.