Session 22: Is the world without war conceivable?

    

            War is said to be a continuation of politics by other means, an instrument of advancing political interests. A generally recognized definition of war is, 'large scale organized violence between politically defined groups'. Accounts of war date back to the early history of mankind. According to an article, from the years 1496 B.C. to 1861 A.D, there were 3,130 years of war and 277 years of peace (in other words, thirteen years of war for every year of peace). So, the main question in this era of history where states are regulating the control of weapons of mass destruction is: Is a world without war is conceivable?  

            "Nature of war is not in actual fighting but the known disposition thereto." (Thomas Hobbes)

The point Hobbs trying to make is that essence of war lies in the anticipating it, not actually engaging in combat. For instance, consider the case of Pakistan India relations. There has been a general conception that Pakistan has to be prepared for any potential attack from across the border. Pakistanis and Indians are both permanently in such a state of mind in which they are preparing themselves for any potential attack. Thus according to Hobbes, this anticipation of war is the true essence of war. 

              So a world without war is conceivable if people start believing that there can be a world without the menace of war. As long as people continued to be living with their perception that war is inevitable, they will continue to be at war. Attitudes towards war can be altered just as views about social evils like slavery has been changed. Human social and political life has gone through a fundamental change over time. From a state of lawlessness to an organized political structure and values, there is no reason to believe that war is an inevitable and inherent in human nature.