War: What is it Good For?. War is an armed conflict between nations or factions. - Wars have been around since before recorded history. They happen for.

War: What is it Good For?

War is an armed conflict between nations or factions.

- Wars have been around since before recorded history. They happen for various reasons.

- It can be easy to demonize the “other.” Nations do horrible things in war as a group that an individual would never do to another individual.

- Professor Lawrence Keeley estimated that 90-95% of societies in history have at least occasionally fought others.

- There is a difference between proximate (shots exchanged in disputed Mexico/US territory) and ultimate causes for conflict (US government wanted North Mexico, empire from Pacific to Atlantic)

- Hundreds of millions of people have died from wars, and even more people have been impacted by them. For a list of major wars, go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War

Three major types of wars exist (some wars overlap a bit):

Type of War Definition ExampleConquest To overcome an enemy by force/

take resources/rule landSpanish vs. Aztecs (1519-21), Japan vs. China (1937-45)

Ideology To fight for an idea or religion Thirty Year’s War (1618-48), Arab-Israeli Conflicts (1948-present)

Politics To fight for a new government and/or country

US Civil War (1861-65), Mexican Revolution (1910-20)

World Systems and Power

There are three types of World systems (Gilpin):

HEGEMONIC BI-POLAR FRACTAL

ONE DOMINANT WORLD POWER TWO DOMINANT WORLD POWERS MULTIPLE (AT LEAST 3) POWERS

Relatively stable Unstable and short-lived; competition between two powers

Delicate situation, balance of power crucial

USA 1991-present Athens vs. Sparta (400s BC) Warring States Period, China (475-221 BC)

Alliances – Ancient Greece vs. Today

-The major military alliance for the United States is called NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization). This alliance was formed in 1949 after World War II .-This alliance was made to counter the Soviet Union (their alliance was called "The Warsaw Pact") and Communism. However, in 1991 the Soviet Union collapsed into Russia and 14 other separate countries.

-In 477 B.C., Athens formed a naval-based military alliance with its neighbors called the Delian League.

- Athens would supply the navy, and the smaller allies would provide tribute to cover the costs.

-In the 500's B.C., Sparta led an army-based military alliance called the Peloponnesian League.

- Most of the "allies" were forced into it by Spartan aggression. This way, the places Sparta conquered would have a hard time getting extra help from neighbors.

United Nations – World Peace?The United Nations: World Peace?

International Relations: War and Peace

Military Spending Today-The US spends more total $$ on its military than any other country - more than the next 14 countries combined/5x China (stat: 2012)! However, some countries spend a higher percentage on their military (see map chart below).

- In 2010, US military spending was about 19% of our total budget (money from taxes, etc.), and 5% of our

total GDP (total money in the country).

- Military spending in wartime: *US World War II = 38% of GDP; Nazi Germany = 66% of GDP;Roman Empire = 80% of GDP at peak!

* Top foreign aid contributors to other countries in a year (in

Total $$)

Foreign Aid:when a country gives

another country resources (including

money). Often, this is used to benefit the

donor country in the future, build trust, and

improve a country’s reputation

* Foreign aid the US gives as a percentage of its

total money. *Note: with private donations, US aid is 0.21%

Non-Military Foreign Aid

Almost all American men between the ages of 18-25 are

eligible for the draft, also called conscription. This

means that if it is necessary, the US government can require

these people to join the military. Our last draft took place

during the Vietnam War in the 1960s-70s.

CONSCRIPTION

People not Eligible for the US draft:

• - All women• - Men under the age of 18

and over the age of 25• - Foreign people in the US

(non-citizens)• - People in prison• - People confined to

psychiatric wards or hospitals• - Certain disabled people• - "Conscientious Objectors" =

men deeply opposed to war in general

• - Single dads with kids can be ineligible if it is an extreme hardship for the kids

• - Religious ministers• - Certain government officials• - Non-white men and gay men

have been ineligible in the past, but they are eligible today

Some Historical Facts about Conscription

• - In the 3rd-2nd centuries B.C., Carthage emptied their jails so convicts could fight against the invading Romans.

• - Modern conscription began in early 1800's France under Napoleon. Every Frenchman was required to fight as it was "A Nation at Arms." Napoleon's "Grand Army" had 2.6 million troops while most European militaries had only tens of thousands of troops!

• - In the USSR (Russia) during World War II, conscripts would be killed if they did not report for duty or ran away in battle.

• - Benin, Chad, China, Cuba, Egypt, Eritrea, Israel, Ivory Coast, Libya, Malaysia, Mongolia, North Korea, Peru, Taiwan, Tunisia recruit both and women as of 2010.

War Through history

Traditional society war tactics: raids, pitched battles, treacherous feast, peaceful gathering turns violent

Some differences in traditional vs. modern war:Traditional: total death from wars in modern countries is 10% of traditional societies, POWs always killed, people often know who they kill, okay to be proud of killings in war, alliances more essentialModern: technological differences are influential, willingness of self-sacrifice, professional soldiers, easier time with peace due to organized government

- Some claim today’s world is the safest it has ever been (the most powerful countries do not want to fight each other), others say we live in the most dangerous world ever (nuclear war = potential to destroy the world)