War and Peace
Octavia Davis
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Octavia Davis
War is an open armed conflict between two or more countries or groups. It is
one of the significant events that have already been in existence since the creation of
mankind and will continue to coexist with us indefinitely. Nobel Laureate Richard E.
Smalley listed war as the sixth out of ten biggest problems that mankind will be facing
for the next fifty years. War is an aspect of the human culture, seemingly will be
eternally attached to the human timeline. It has already changed and will still continue
to shape the world based on how it is governed and the international policies of
different countries.
War has been fought throughout the history of mankind. Even before the dawn
of civilization, small scale wars had already taken place between different tribes. War
has changed on how it is waged since the first time it occurred. From clubs and stones
that the pre-historic man used to kill his enemies to the missiles and nuclear bombs
that has now become the new face of death and world destruction.
Conflict include peaceful disputes over politics or borders, as well as those
involving sporadic or constant violence. In 2008 previously non-violent conflicts
escalated into violence in countries such as Kenya and Yemen. Ideological change is
both the most common cause of conflict and the root of most wars, but there is rarely
only one cause of dispute. Congo’s ongoing conflict encompasses a battle for its
mineral resources and, according to some, an invasion by another state, Rwanda.
The most predominant causes are greed and rising ambitions. Greed is inborn
and present in the character of every human being. Hence we can see unscrupulous
leaders, at the expense of the people, go to wars as a result of their quest for power
and territorial gains. One example will be the internal strife in Angola, Africa. Foday
Sankoh exploited the country’s natural resources—diamonds for his personal wealth,
which resulted in the deaths of many innocent parties. World War II was also started
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by Hitler’s rising demands for territorial gains, conquering states after states. Hence
wars that were fought for personal gains are the most common.
The World Trade Organization (WTO) can step in here. In face of such
unscrupulous leaders, the countries in the organization can stop trading with them and
place an international boycott on such countries. For example, Iraq was slapped with
an international boycott whereby countries such as Britain, France and America
refused to buy oil from them during the invasion of Kuwait in the nineties.
Next the fight for basic human rights is also one of the main reasons as to why
wars were fought. In some countries, citizens do not enjoy equal rights. Widespread
discrimination of minority can easily spark wars. People may be denied of basic rights
such as housing, education and opportunities of employment. Hence uprisings may
occur. One example will be the conflict in Sri Lanka. The Tamil Tigers fight for the
rights of the people and aim for a country whereby each and every citizen is given
equal human rights.
Peace talks could be held to settle the difference. The government can also
step in and give equal treatment to the citizens within the country. The people can be
educated to treat everyone as their equals. Punishment can be meted out to o$enders
who discriminate the minority.
The next main reason of wars is ethnic difference present within a country.
Intolerance towards a particular race could result in wars, especially so if one
particular ethnic group is rich while the rest live in poverty. Jealously breeds quickly in
such circumstances. To illustrate this point, ethnic difference between the Serbs and
Bosnians was one of the reasons why the Bosnian War was started. Ethnic cleansing
torn the country apart and lives of many were lost. Tolerance will have to be preached
within the country to prevent such instances from happening again. The people could
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be taught about each other’s race and the difference between each ethnic group can
be closed. Open mindedness and exposure are key factors to curb such incidents.
Steps have to be taken by the government to change the people’s mindset that each
race is equal. Only then can the country move towards a common ground. For example,
Singapore was once plagued by racial riots. Education of the various races living in the
country was introduced. This helped to settle the difference between the various
community groups and hence curb racial riots.
One of the main reasons of wars will be religious di$erence present within a
country. In tolerance towards a particular religion can spark o$ wars. More often than
not, a particular religious group of people may consider themselves to be superior to
the rest. Such arrogance can be deadly. To emphasize the point above, the recent
conflict between Catholics and Protestants will be one example. Catholics, being the
