Nations wage war for what they claim to be a variety of reasons; in defense, to better the economy, for some righteous cause, for revenge, etc. Wars are waged in what appears to be the interest of the state, however, many conflicts can be attributed to individuals. It is individuals who make the decisions to involve their states in conflict, and it is individuals that determine the nature and length of wars. This can be seen through the effects of great and poor statesmen and historical causes of war, and the examination of the current conflict in the Middle East. A statesman is defined as great men and women “who inspire confidence in everyday life, or those who do so as leaders of a community, by deed, word or example, or because they inspire
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It is in human nature that the root causes of war can be found, the reasons being far more basic than one might assume. Thucydides held that “people go to war out of honor, fear, and interest.” These simple reasons can be ascertained to be at the root of any human conflict. Wars are fought out of fear in order to protect a nation and the people within it, religious wars are fought most often out of honor, out of a desire to be faithful and serve one’s god, and others are fought out of interest; in the interest of new territory, of survival, or of glory. In times of crisis a single decision maker may need to emerge to combat the mass panic that is found in the general population, in the hands of great statesmen these decisions as seen in the aftermath of the attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. The decisions following the attack –from the immediate grounding of all planes in the United States to the war on terrorism and the subsequent invasion of Iraq- were made by individuals –President Bush and members of his team. The war on terrorism and invasion of Iraq is commonly seen as a rash, emotionally charged decision that has now lead to unexpected –and easily avoidable- consequences. It is this invasion of Iraq in 2003 that likely allowed for the rise of ISIS/Da’ish in the …show more content…
The group is not endorsed by any state, but is a non-state actor on the global stage, run by individuals against greater nations in an attempt to create a “broader Islamic Caliphate.” The group likely rose as a response to American intervention in Iraq and the fall of Saddam Hussein in the early 2000s, which left the region in a state of unrest with a vacuum of power to be filled. ISIS is an extremist Islamic group waging an extremist interpretation of Jihad, or Holy War, against those they believe to be Infidels, or unbelievers, including even those of the Shia faith, a different sect of Islam. This conflict was created by individuals for the base reasons that create any other conflict; out of fear of foreign invasion, and out of honor in their religion.
While the specifics of the causes of war may adapt and evolve to each particular case, every conflict can be attributed to human nature, and the will of individuals in power, whether that will lean towards protection or
It is in human nature that the root causes of war can be found, the reasons being far more basic than one might assume. Thucydides held that “people go to war out of honor, fear, and interest.” These simple reasons can be ascertained to be at the root of any human conflict. Wars are fought out of fear in order to protect a nation and the people within it, religious wars are fought most often out of honor, out of a desire to be faithful and serve one’s god, and others are fought out of interest; in the interest of new territory, of survival, or of glory. In times of crisis a single decision maker may need to emerge to combat the mass panic that is found in the general population, in the hands of great statesmen these decisions as seen in the aftermath of the attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. The decisions following the attack –from the immediate grounding of all planes in the United States to the war on terrorism and the subsequent invasion of Iraq- were made by individuals –President Bush and members of his team. The war on terrorism and invasion of Iraq is commonly seen as a rash, emotionally charged decision that has now lead to unexpected –and easily avoidable- consequences. It is this invasion of Iraq in 2003 that likely allowed for the rise of ISIS/Da’ish in the …show more content…
The group is not endorsed by any state, but is a non-state actor on the global stage, run by individuals against greater nations in an attempt to create a “broader Islamic Caliphate.” The group likely rose as a response to American intervention in Iraq and the fall of Saddam Hussein in the early 2000s, which left the region in a state of unrest with a vacuum of power to be filled. ISIS is an extremist Islamic group waging an extremist interpretation of Jihad, or Holy War, against those they believe to be Infidels, or unbelievers, including even those of the Shia faith, a different sect of Islam. This conflict was created by individuals for the base reasons that create any other conflict; out of fear of foreign invasion, and out of honor in their religion.
While the specifics of the causes of war may adapt and evolve to each particular case, every conflict can be attributed to human nature, and the will of individuals in power, whether that will lean towards protection or