War is Hard, Part II

British 55th (West Lancashire) Division troops blinded by tear gas await treatment at an Advanced Dressing
Station near Bethune during the Battle of Estaires, 10 April 1918, part of the German offensive in Flanders.
(Source)

You cannot qualify war in harsher terms than I will. War is cruelty, and you cannot refine it; and those who brought war into our country deserve all the curses and maledictions a people can pour out. I know I had no hand in making this war, and I know I will make more sacrifices to-day than any of you to secure peace. But you cannot have peace and a division of our country. If the United States submits to a division now, it will not stop, but will go on until we reap the fate of Mexico, which is eternal war. The United States does and must assert its authority, wherever it once had power; for, if it relaxes one bit to pressure, it is gone, and I believe that such is the national feeling. - William T. Sherman (Source)

 

War is a mere continuation of politics by other means.

So war is an act of violence to force the enemy to do our will. 

Carl von Clausewitz 

On War, Book One

I have often wondered why war seems to be so prevalent in our history.

We aren't the only species to make war upon each other, chimpanzees will also go to war over resources and territory. (See the Gombe Chimpanzee War here.) So is making war an early trait developed by our species as a means to survive?

Say the game in a particular area has been overhunted, what's a primitive band of humans to do? Two choices I suppose, stay where you are and starve, or move to another area where game is more plentiful. What if that area already has a band of humans who rely on that game? Is the game plentiful enough to support both groups? If not, what happens?

In our early history survival was job one, it's what humans did every single day. There were no vacations, very little leisure time (though I'm sure that the very young had time for play), and just finding enough to eat could be a struggle. Life and death was right there, close enough to touch, so to speak.

Early conflict resolution was probably along the lines of "Keep moving you foreigners, this is our territory," and the intruders would move along. Or they wouldn't and now it was "They're not leaving, we have to kill them." Or be killed by them.

So early warfare was a matter of necessity, a matter of survival. All species will do whatever it takes to ensure the survival of themselves and their progeny. Often at the expense of others.

As our numbers grew and we learned new things, like animal husbandry and farming, we settled in larger groups and developed civilization. But there were still groups who subsisted by hunting and foraging and tended to move with the seasons. Think of the peoples of the vast steppes of Eurasia, they were nomads and far "tougher" than city dwellers. So upon coming across a city, loaded with food and other marvels, why not just pillage the city, take what you want?

As civilization progressed (and available, useful land became scarce) the idea of expansion to accommodate a growing population was now a driver of what we call politics. Can't negotiate with another group to get what you need/want? Then take it.

I'm sure there are many instances in history where the common people were content with their lot in life, but those who led them were not. There are those who are attracted to power for its own sake, convince the commoners that they've been wronged, get them riled up and presto, you have the opportunity to expand your power.

People who have seen war never forget its cost, its horrors, but as they age a younger generation takes over who have never seen war. In violence they may see a quick and dirty solution to some perceived need.

And a whole new generation learns the cost of war.

Only to grow old and have the cycle repeat.

Is it possible to end war?

I certainly don't know, but honestly, I agree with George Santayana¹ -

Only the dead have seen the end of war.

¹ Also attributed to Plato, but evidence suggests it was actually Santayana.