The Persistent Allure of War

War Has Always Been With Us . . .

This myth is called into question by Douglas P. Fry in his book Beyond War. Fry, an anthropologist, notes that many hunter-gatherer tribes, before the advent of farming communities, the rise of kings and nation states, did not actively make war. War appears to be a by-product of the civilized world and has become so common as to seem universal and inevitable. Yet there have always been people in the western world who chose not to make war. Among them are peace-loving groups like the Amish and the Quakers, and nation states like Switzerland and Sweden who have taught themselves to live without war for long periods of time.

We Have a Choice

Humans have always found good reasons to go to war, the most important of which is when an outside aggressor threatens the safety and security of its citizens. Much of the time, however, when nations and large groups go to war, their aims are not strictly defensive. Some other force calls people into war, even when going to war appears counter-productive or downright foolish.

What is it about war-making that draws us in? Why do so many of us return to war over and over again? The truth is that many human beings love war and cannot resist its siren call. It is that allure which accounts for the endurance of warfare over the centuries. Here is my list of factors that make up this compelling drive:

The Pay-Offs in War

• War makes us feel incredibly alive. It is living out on the edge of life and death and that is exhilarating to some who would make war.
• War calls us to be heroes, to risk everything and to sacrifice ourselves for something larger than ourselves, be it for love of family, country or simply ones fellow soldiers.
• The bonding of soldiers is battle may be the closest thing to real love that many men will ever know. Under fire, men (and now women), experience an intensity of love that is vastly beyond the humdrum routine of ordinary life.
• War can be astonishingly beautiful and full of breathtaking sights and sounds.
• To become a warrior and to use the force of arms against other people, especially if one feels powerless or victimized, is to instantly feel all-powerful. One becomes almost a god, capable of taking the most precious thing away from our enemies, life itself. This dynamic is true in all acts of violence, be they between individuals, groups or nations.
• War allows us to be morally superior. Our side is good and right. Our enemies are bad or evil, and hence they become objects and taking their lives is justified. Life becomes very simple and moral complexities are swept aside.

These are some of the factors that fuel the addiction to war and which keep it in place. It is, unfortunately, a Faustian bargain. By keeping this habit going, we threaten the survival of our species and perhaps the future of our planet as well.

Question:

What other ways might humans meet the deep needs that the drug of war supplies?