War is the worst thing humans do. It causes widespread death and destruction. Millions of people throughout history, and into the present day, have lost their lives in wars. Communities, and entire countries, have been ripped apart by conflicts that often take decades to recover from.
…however, look at almost any society and this view of war is rarely seen. In fact, almost all societies promote a highly romanticized view of war. So why is this? Why is war seen as so glorious? Let us explain…
1. War Has Almost Always Been Romanticized
A first reason why war is romanticized is because there is a long tradition of glorying war.
Look back through human history, and war has almost always been glorified. Across almost all cultures, societies have had a romantic view of human conflict. Different cultures, and in different times of history, there have been variations in how this romantic view of war has presented itself – but one fact holds true, war has almost always been glorified.
The fact that war has been glorified for so long is a major reason why we will still have the widespread view that war is romantic. Societies have simply been unable to fully shift away from this long-held and ingrained view of war.
Although in recent years, attempts have been made to show the full horrors of war, and this has somewhat diminished societies romantic view, still the idea that war is somehow glorious remains.
2. Armies Use Romantic Notions Of War To Recruit
A second reason why war is seen as romantic is because militaries use this as a tool to help them recruit.
There are many aspects of being in the armed forces that are far from romantic. In fact, if the true nature of military service and war was widely known, few people would sign-up for a nation’s army, air force or navy. As a result, almost every country’s military promotes an image of service, and fighting, as exciting, patriotic, romantic and glorious. This is a key part of their recruitment techniques.
Armies have long used the romantic notion of war to help them recruit. The idea that serving your nation by joining the military is a noble sacrifice is often promoted by the armed forces. In some countries, the military even funds, or supports, entertainment like movies, TV shows and videos games as way to further ingrain the idea that military service in romantic and glorious.
Militaries promoting the idea that war is glorious is spread across almost all cultures. It is vital for them that this view remains, or else recruitment numbers are likely to drop. This is one reason why society at large has a such a romantic view of human conflict.
3. There Is Money To Be Made By Glorifying War
A third reason why war is glorified is because there is money to be made from romanticizing war.
It may be cynical, but the promotion of a romantic view of war makes many powerful people money. Firstly, many art and entertainment works use the glorified view of war as a selling point. For centuries it has been clear that audiences want to consume art and media that shows war as romantic.
It has only been in recent years that film and TV, for example, has begun showing a more realistic depiction of war. Even then, entertainment that glorifies war far outsells these efforts.
It is not only the entertainment industry that makes significant sums by promoting a glorified image of war. A wide range of entities, from arms developers and sellers, to even militaries themselves, make money by ensuring that the wider public see war as a worthwhile and just cause. One way they do this is by feeding into the promotion that war is somehow romantic.
4. It Justifies The Sacrifices Made In Wars
Another reason why war is romanticized and glorified is because it justifies the sacrifices made in war.
Every country has faced a multitude of conflicts in their past. Huge numbers of people have sacrificed their lives fighting for their countries. Some of these wars were justified – often to protect a nation from conquest or to fight for the independence of a country. However, many were unjustifiable wars of conquest and aggression. In both cases, enormous sacrifices were made. War is often romanticized as a way to justify these sacrifices.
As well conflict being glorified in order to justify the sacrifices made in wars, the romantic view of war is also used to honor the lives lost in past conflicts. Almost all countries view honoring their war dead as a hugely important part of their culture. In order to do this, they use a romantic and glorified version of war.
5. Glorifying Wars Helps Prepare Nations For Conflicts
An important reason why war is seen as romantic is because it helps to prepare a nation for future conflicts.
In order for countries to defend themselves, they need an armed forces. They also need large numbers of people that are willing to sign-up for the military and, if called upon, are willing to fight, and possibly, die, for their country. Almost all societies promote a romantic view of war in order to help them prepare their populations for any potential future conflicts.
Countries promote a romantic view of war almost for their own survival. If a country’s population strongly held the view that war was horrific and terrible – which it is, they would be less likely to support their governments going to war.
Nations that are actively preparing for wars are likely to ramp up their romantic and glorified stance to human conflict. Throughout history, countries at war have also dedicated significant resources to ensuring both the military, and the wider population, believe that war is just and glorious.
6. It’s A Link To A Nation’s History
A final reason why war is romanticized and glorified is because it acts as a link to a nation’s past.
Almost every country in the world has conflicts in their history. Many of these wars have been pivotal in forming a nation and its culture. The wars in a country’s past are almost always directly connected to how a country is formed, as well as how it views itself and its history. As a result, war is romanticized in order to form a connection to this past.
All nations want to view their histories as being romantic. As we’ve said, this is a key part of many nations’ current identities. As a result, the conflicts in a country’s past are almost always seen as glorious.
Many countries use this glorious view of their country’s past conflicts as a key part of how they teach history in their education systems. In the wider society, entertainment is often used to connect modern day national struggles with romantic views of the country’s historical conflicts.
The key role conflicts have played in how almost every country’s national identify is formed is a major reason why so many see war as romantic and glorious.