[7] Wars can’t be justified. Period.
A social phenomenon masked as “foreign policy”, war, as defined by Clausewitz in the general sense, is an act or threat of violence intended to compel opposing forces to fulfill one’s will. In recent decades, the global community has strengthened its promise to end the use of force through the United Nations’ peacekeeping efforts. Despite this, instances of political violence outside the parameters of war have been instigated, especially by nuclear superpowers who have pledged their full cooperation in fostering global peace and security. While contemporary theories of war have been more concerned on its psychological, biological, and institutional attributes, today we will highlight a more nuanced approach. Specifically, on how the major wars of the past have left poor nations in a state of recovery.
The concept of “developing nations”, more than its general definition, simply suggest that they are poor countries working towards their goal of attaining economic and social progress. But in reality, developing countries have been the victims of war, and are merely recovering from the havoc brought by imperialist superpowers. As such, wars have never been beneficial to any, even after the conception of the just war theory. War remains the worst option simply because it forces nations and its citizens into a state of disarray – all because of conflicting interests that could be settled amicably. While it is easier said than done, wars must never have a place in contemporary policy making for we must actively learn from the mistakes of the wars waged in the past and the human rights crises that ensued. To truly achieve genuine democracy, we must get rid of the idea that war is a legitimate and justifiable avenue to pursue peace and stability. For a society born in bloodshed shall never embody the tenets of democracy.