Photo by Serhii Bondarchuk
Due to what’s happening in Ukraine, the people of our modern times are becoming more worried. The tension of an impending World War has been hanging in the air, and hushed whispers of its arrival have escaped many people’s mouths. It’s as if War itself was knocking on everyone’s doors.
In reality, the fact is that wars — from small, irregular warfare to large-scale battle operations — bring in more harm than good, which is why nations prefer to avoid them if they can. Wars are also expensive, and the costlier it is, the harder both parties will work harder to prevent them from happening. Daniel M. Dewald, being a Vietnam war veteran, knows all about wars, which he talks about in one of his books titled Grey Feathers Led By Love of Country.
But what exactly causes wars to happen? Why do wars exist, and is there a path to peace that we can take?
Why Do Wars Exist: 5 Reasons Why Wars Happen
War is broadly defined as a destructive conflict between nations or states. Nations choose to go to war for numerous reasons. And it has been contested that the number one reason nations go to war is when the benefits offset the disadvantages.
However, the instances of war are pretty complex, so let’s look at five reasons why wars occur.
1. Uncertainty with the Information Regarding the Opposition
Putting too much focus on misperception and bias dims the inconspicuous role of uncertainty. Once this happens, one party will feel paranoid and worry that they will be invaded first. As a result, they will end up making bold decisions to try and get the upper hand. Ultimately, their choices lead to escalations that exacerbate the tension of war.
2. Unchecked Power and Lack of Accountability
Leaders who don’t need to ponder the welfare of their citizens and soldiers will always disregard peaceful interventions, unlike the book that Daniel M. Dewald wrote, titled Grey Feathers Led By Love of Country, where the brave and unselfish soldiers responded to survive the onslaught of advancing enemies.
Whenever leaders are not made accountable and go unchecked by their people, they’ll most likely ignore the outlays of battling that ordinary folk would have to bear in wars. They’ll instead go after their selfish interests.
3. Unable to Rely On or Trust Other Nations
Power shifts commonly answer the question: “Why do wars exist?” Some individuals think it’s better to take in the brutal consequences of war than follow a new leader. Several scholars even argue that crucial shifts in power and the commitment issues they bring are why wars have existed since time immemorial.
4. Conflicts in Ideology and Wanting to Dominate Other Ideologies
Believe it or not, ideology and glory are common reasons wars started. Of course, ideology exists in all of us, and when two people with different ideologies clash, either one or both would choose war.
5. Biased Point of View
Similar to ideology, a biased point of view can lead to wars that should have never happened. Bias also leads to nations underestimating the difficulty of the war they’re planning to get into. Overestimating one’s chances of victory can be foolish, and as we already know, the price of war is often a hefty one that all will pay for with our lives.
The Roads that Lead to Peace
Although war is undoubtedly an alarming scenario, there are some paths that we can take so we can maintain the peace we are currently enjoying. “What are those paths?” You may ask. Well, they’re the ones mentioned above.
By choosing to do the difficult thing of making leaders accountable, not underestimating war due to our biases, dealing with our differences civilly, taking the time to build trustworthy relationships with other nations, and jumping the gun when information gets blurry, we can avoid wars.
There is genuinely no victor in war, only casualties. And if we wish to avoid it, we must learn from people like Daniel M. Dewald, who looked war in the eyes and survived it. Remember to read his book Grey Feathers Led By Love of Country to learn about his bravery and companions.
