RESEARCH PAPER

Name: Richa Mehta

Class:. S.Y.B.L.S.
Div: A
Roll no.: 40
Subject: Political Science
Submitted to: Prof. Urmila Chauhan
Topic: War: The Beginning of Destruction
 WAR: THE BEGINNING OF DESTRUCTION

What is war?
War is a social political phenomenon associated with a fundamental change of the character of
relations among states, peoples, nations, when confronting parties stop using nonviolent forms
and methods of struggle and start to use weapons and other violent mediums directly to reach
political and economic goals.1 It is an intense armed conflict between states, governments,
societies, or paramilitary groups such as mercenaries, insurgents, and militias. It is generally
characterized by extreme violence, destruction, and mortality, using regular or irregular military
forces.2 Today, war is the sharpest form of direct political confrontation of enemy parties. The
main instrument used to conduct war is armed forces and other paramilitary units.

Causes for War

In the history of mankind, there were multiple wars fought between States, governments, State
and the citizens, etc. In almost every decade, the world witnessed some massive destruction
caused due to the wars. The reason for them vary from situation to situation. It may be political
crises, ideological differences, religion, economic factors, terrorism, territorial expansion,
defense, revenge or any other. Let's study them in detail.

Eight Main Causes of War

1
‘Global Studies Encyclopedia Dictionary’
file:///C:/Users/Dell/Downloads/_book_edcoll_9789401210973_B9789401210973-s025-preview.pdf
2
‘War’ Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War
 1. Economic Gain

A country's desire to seize control of another country's resources frequently starts wars. Even
when the proclaimed goal of a war is portrayed to the public as something more noble, most wars
have an economic motivation at their core, regardless of any other possible causes.
In pre-industrial periods, a belligerent nation would want to win valuable commodities like gold
and silver or livestock like cows and horses.
The resources that are hoped to be won by battle today take the form of things like oil, minerals,
or manufacturing materials.

Historical examples of wars fought for economic gain

● Anglo-Indian Wars (1766–1849): The British East India Company and various Indian
states engaged in a series of conflicts known as the Anglo-Indian Wars. Due to the British
colonial rule that was established in India as a result of these wars, Britain had unfettered
access to the rare and precious resources that were indigenous to the Indian subcontinent.

● Opium Conflicts (1839–1860) – In the 19th century, the Qing dynasty and Western
powers engaged in two wars. China wanted to maintain its independence and largely be
left alone, whilst Britain wanted to engage in trade with China.

● Japanese Invasion of Manchuria (1931-1932) - Critically short of raw materials to

supply its industrial growth, Japan launched an invasion of the Chinese province of
Manchuria in 1931. Following the successful conquest, the Japanese established the
puppet state of Manchukuo

2. Territorial gain

A nation may determine that it requires more land for habitation, agriculture, or other uses.
Additionally, territory might serve as "buffer zones" between two hostile adversaries.
Proxy wars relate to buffer zones. These conflicts involve rival powers engaged in covert warfare
in a third country. Each power backs the cause that best serves their logistical, military, and
financial objectives. During the Cold War, proxy conflicts were extremely prevalent.

Historical examples of wars fought for Territorial Gain

● Roman conquest of Britain (starting in AD 43) - In an effort to expand the Roman

Empire as much as possible and partly motivated by the grandeur of conquest, Emperor
Claudius landed an invasion army on the beaches of Kent in AD 43. Battles broke out
with the island's British Celtic tribes as a result.

● The Mexican-American War (1846-1848) - This war was fought after Texas was
annexed by Mexico, who claimed the land as their own. The United States eventually
won, and Texas became a state.

● The Serbo-Bulgarian War (1885-1886) - A border dispute erupted between Bulgaria

and Serbia over the territory of Eastern Rumelia.

3. Religion

Religious conflicts frequently have deep roots. They can be dormant for decades before
resurfacing in a flash at a later date. Religious wars are frequently linked to other causes of
conflict, such as nationalism or retaliation for a perceived historical slight in the past.
While conflict between religions can be a cause of war, conflict between sects within a religion
(for example, Protestant and Catholic, or Sunni and Shiite) can also be a cause of war.

Historical examples of wars fought for Religion

 ● The Crusades in the Holy Land (1095-1291) - During the medieval period, the Latin
Church encouraged a series of religious wars in the Holy Land. The crusaders' goal was
to overthrow Islamic rule and establish Christian dominance in the region.

● Greek Revolutionary War (1821-1829) - This war, fought by Greek revolutionaries

against the Ottoman Empire, was heavily religious in nature. This was especially
noticeable early on, with many Christian Greeks viewing the conflict with the Muslim
Turks as a holy war.

● Civil War in Lebanon (1975-1990) - The Lebanese Civil War arose from socioeconomic
and political tensions, manifesting as a power struggle between the Sunni Muslim, Shiite
Muslim, and Christian populations of Lebanon.

4. Nationalism

In this context, nationalism essentially means attempting to prove your country's superiority over
another through violent subjugation. This is frequently manifested as an invasion. Imperialism,
which is related to nationalism, is based on the idea that conquering other countries is glorious
and brings honor and esteem to the conqueror.
Racism is also linked to nationalism, as evidenced by Hitler's Germany. Adolf Hitler went to war
with Russia in part because the Russians (and eastern Europeans in general) were viewed as
Slavs, or a race that the Nazis considered inferior.

Historical examples of wars fought for National

● Yugoslav Wars (1991–2001) – During Yugoslavia's disintegration, various nationalist

groups such as Serbs, Croatians, and Bosnians fought each other, often fueled by historic
ethnic and cultural tensions.
 ● World War I (1914-1918) - Loyalty and patriotism drew many countries into this
conflict, which was the world's largest conflict at the time. Many Europeans believed in
their country's cultural, economic, and military superiority, which played a significant
role in the start and continuation of the war.

● The Italian-Ethiopian War (1935-36) - Benito Mussolini rose to power in Italy on the
promise of restoring national pride. Mussolini's troops gained complete control of the
Horn of Africa in 1936, seeking to restore Italian prestige after a previous defeat in
Ethiopia.

5. Revenge

Seeking to punish, redress a grievance, or simply retaliate for a perceived slight is frequently a
factor in the conduct of war. Revenge is also linked to nationalism, as the people of a wronged
country are motivated to fight back by pride and spirit.
Unfortunately, this can set off an endless chain of retaliatory wars that are extremely difficult to
stop. The line between victim and aggressor is frequently blurred, with all participants believing
they are fighting a just war to right historical wrongs. Historically, vengeance has played a role in
many European wars.

Historical examples of wars fought for Revenge

● The Boudican Revolt - Boudicca, the warrior queen of the ancient British Celtic Iceni
tribe, launched an all-out war against the Roman occupiers after the Romans failed to
honour an agreement made with her husband and brutally raped her daughters. The revolt
was eventually put down after some initial successes by the Britons.

● World War II (1939-1945) - The defeat in WWI and the subsequent Treaty of Versailles,
which imposed harsh punishments on Germany, resulted in the rise of the Nazi Socialist
Party and Germany's eventual dominance of the European continent.
 ● Afghanistan War (2001-2021) - This war could be viewed as partially motivated by
vengeance, with the United States retaliating against Al Qaeda for the September 11th
attacks on the World Trade Center in 2001. The Taliban government in Afghanistan
provided safe haven for the terrorist group, prompting an American-led NATO invasion.

6. Civil wars

These usually occur when there is intense internal conflict within a country. Disagreements can
arise over who rules, how the country should be run, or the rights of the people. Internal schisms
frequently turn into chasms, resulting in violent conflict between two or more opposing groups.
Separatist groups seeking to form their own independent country, or, as in the case of the
American Civil War, states seeking to secede from a larger union, can also spark civil wars.

Historical examples of Civil Wars

● The American Civil War (1861-1865) - It was fought by the Union army and the
Confederate army as a result of the long-standing debate over slavery.

● Civil War in Russia (1917-1923) - The Russian Civil War erupted in the aftermath of the
Russian Revolution, with the Red Army vying for control of Russia's political future.

● The Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) - It was fought between the Republicans, who
supported the leftist Second Spanish Republic, and the Nationalists, a conservative group
led by General Francisco Franco.

7. Revolutionary War

These occur when a significant portion of a country's population revolts against the individual or
group ruling the country because they are dissatisfied with their leadership.
Revolutions can start for a variety of reasons, such as economic hardship among certain
segments of the population or perceived injustices committed by the ruling class. Other factors,
such as unpopular wars with other countries, can also play a role. Revolutionary wars can
quickly turn into civil wars.

Historical examples of Revolutionary Wars

● The American Revolution (1775–1783)- It liberated the 13 North American colonies

from British rule and established the United States of America.

● The French Revolution (1789-1799) - It pitted the bourgeoisie and peasantry against the
aristocracy, resulting in the end of the ancien régime in France.

● The Haitian Revolution (1791–1804) - It was a successful slave rebellion that

established Haiti as the first free black republic.

8. Defensive war

In today's world, where military aggression is increasingly questioned, countries will frequently
argue that they are fighting in a purely defensive capacity against an aggressor or potential
aggressor, and that their war is thus a "just" war.
These defensive wars can be especially contentious when launched preemptively, with the
underlying argument being that "we are attacking them before they inevitably attack us."

Historical examples of Defensive Wars

● The Gallic Wars (58 BC-50 BC) - They were fought to make the Roman Empire more
defendable. Gallic and Germanic tribes in the area had attacked Rome several times. By
invading Gaul, Rome gained access to the Rhine River, which served as a natural
defensive border.
 ● Iraqi War (2003-2011) - An international coalition led by the United States invaded Iraq
on the grounds that Saddam Hussein, the country's leader, was developing weapons of
mass destruction, posing a threat to neighbouring countries and the rest of the world. The
war was contentious because the US and UK's claims about weapons of mass destruction
were proven to be false.

● Invasion of Ukraine by Russia (2022) - In February 2022, Russian troops invaded

Ukraine, escalating the conflict that began in 2014. Russia's leader, Vladimir Putin,
claimed that the military action was defensive in nature, with the goal of demilitarising
Ukraine, halting NATO's further expansion, and preventing an attack on Russia. These
assertions have been widely contested.

Destruction Caused by Wars

War has far-reaching consequences that can be long-term or short-term. Soldiers and civilians
experience war differently, even though both suffer during times of war, with women and
children suffering atrocities and war crimes in particular.3 Children have made up to two million
of those killed in armed conflicts over the last decade.4 Another legacy of these conflicts is the
widespread trauma caused by these atrocities and the suffering of civilians, which results in
significant emotional and psychological stress. Internal wars today are generally more lethal to
civilians than state wars. This is due to an increasing trend in which combatants have made
civilians a strategic goal. War's effects also include mass destruction of cities, which has
long-term consequences for a country's economy. Armed conflict has significant indirect
negative impacts on infrastructure, public health, and social order. These unintended
consequences are frequently overlooked and underappreciated.

1. Loss of lifes

3
"Armed Conflict" (PDF). UN. United Nations.
4
"Impact of Armed Conflict on Children". United Nations Report. 1996.
During Europe's Thirty Years' War, for example, the population of the German states was
reduced by approximately 30%.5 Swedish armies may have destroyed up to 2,000 castles, 18,000
villages, and 1,500 towns in Germany alone, accounting for one-third of all German towns.6
Estimates for total World War II casualties vary, but most estimate that 60 million people died in
the war, including about 20 million soldiers and 40 million civilians.
During the war, the Soviet Union lost approximately 27 million people, accounting for roughly
half of all World War II casualties. 7
1.2 million civilians died during the 872-day Siege of Leningrad, the highest number of civilian
deaths in a single city. According to the 1860 census, 8% of all white males aged 13 to 50 died in
the American Civil War. Eight million European soldiers were killed, seven million were
permanently disabled, and fifteen million were seriously injured during World War I. 8

2. Effects on Economy
During and after a war, the economy can suffer devastating effects. According to Shank,
"negative unintended consequences occur either concurrently with the war or develop as residual
effects afterwards thereby impeding the economy over the longer term".9 In 2012, the economic
impact of war and violence was estimated to be 11% of global GDP (or $9.46 trillion USD). A
community's or country's normal activities are disrupted, and property may be damaged. When
people become misplaced, they are unable to work or keep their businesses open, causing
economic harm to the countries involved.

3. Destruction of Infrastructure
Infrastructure destruction can result in a catastrophic collapse of the social interconnected
structure, infrastructure services, education, and health care system. The destruction of schools
and educational infrastructure has resulted in a drop in education in many war-torn countries.If

5
The Thirty Years War (1618–48), Alan McFarlane, The Savage Wars of Peace: England, Japan and the Malthusian
Trap (2003)
6
History of Europe – Demographics. Encyclopædia Britannica.
7
"Leaders mourn Soviet wartime dead". BBC News. 9 May 2005.
8
Kitchen, Martin (2000), The Treaty of Versailles and its Consequences Archived 12 May 2008 at the Wayback Machine,
New York: Longman
9
Shank, Ph.D. Michael. "Economic Consequences of War on U.S. Economy: Debt, Taxes and Inflation Increase;
Consumption and Investment Decrease". The Huffington Post. 2012.
certain infrastructure elements are severely damaged or destroyed, it can severely disrupt other
systems such as the economy.10 This includes the loss of certain transportation routes in a city,
which could make the economy unable to function properly. For example, warring factions
frequently destroy bridges to separate themselves from attackers, thereby creating barriers to
people movement both in the short term (evacuation of civilians) and in the long term, once lines
of control are redrawn.

4. Labour Force
The labor force of the economy changes as a result of the effects of war. The labor force is
impacted in a variety of ways, most notably by a drastic loss of life, a change in population, a
shrinking labor force due to the movement of refugees and displacement, and the destruction of
infrastructure, which allows for a deterioration in productivity.

5. On Society
Conflict is a major impediment to achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs),
particularly universal primary education and gender equality in education.
"The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are the world's time-bound and quantifiable
targets for addressing extreme poverty in all of its forms—income poverty, hunger, disease, a
lack of adequate shelter, and exclusion—while also promoting gender equality, education, and
environmental sustainability. They are also basic human rights—everyone on the planet's right to
health, education, shelter, and security ".11 Armed conflict, without a doubt, directly kills, injures,
and harms more men than women because combatants are predominantly male. Armed conflict
has numerous indirect consequences, including health and survival. "Armed conflict both
generates conditions for increased morbidity and mortality".12

Education

10
Infrastructure for the 21st Century, Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press, 1987
11
Olmsted, Jennifer C. Globalization Denied: Gender and Poverty in Iraq and Palestine, in The Wages of Empire:
Neoliberal Policies, Armed Repression, and Women's Poverty, edited by Amalia Cabezas, Ellen Reese, and
Marguerite Waller,
12
Plümper, Thomas, and Eric Neumayer. "The Unequal Burden of War: The Effect of Armed Conflict on the Gender
Gap in Life Expectancy". International Organization
When a country is in an economic crisis, there is an increase in poverty, which leads to a drop in
education. More than half of the world's unschooled children are forced to live in
conflict-affected fragile states. According to the UNESCO report "The groups most negatively
affected by conflict were those that suffered from multiple exclusion, for example based on
gender, area of residence, household wealth, language, and ethnicity".13 One of the most
damaging effects of conflict on education is the increase in school attacks, with children,
teachers, and school buildings becoming targets of violence. During times of war, teachers and
students are frequently killed or displaced. This prevents schools from opening and increases
teacher absenteeism. In the case of Iraq, boys were pulled out of school to work for their
families, resulting in a narrowing of the gender education gap.14

Degradation of Environment
There are two major ways in which war contributes to environmental degradation. The first is the
direct effects of eradicating native biota, while the second is the indirect effects of denying
species the resources they require to survive, or even their entire habitat. For humans, the United
States military's use of depleted uranium (DU) during the Persian Gulf War sparked claims that
the deposited DU was the cause of a cancer cluster in Iraq's southern regions. Furthermore, as a
result of the United States government's approval of the toxic defoliant Agent Orange during the
Vietnam War, the Vietnamese government estimates that 400,000 Vietnamese were killed or
maimed by it, 200,000 suffered from cancer, and 500,000 were born with related birth defects.

Destruction of Cultural Assets

Cultural assets are threatened with destruction, confiscation, looting, and robbery during a war.
Archaeological finds, excavation sites, archives, libraries, museums, and monuments are
examples of cultural heritage that are sometimes simply vandalized or stolen by warring parties
in order to fund the war. Nazi Germany, in particular, stole art objects in large parts of Europe

13
Davies, Lynn (2009). "Thinkpiece on Education and Conflict". UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
14
Olmsted, Jennifer C. Globalization Denied: Gender and Poverty in Iraq and Palestine, in The Wages of Empire:
Neoliberal Policies, Armed Repression, and Women's Poverty, edited by Amalia Cabezas, Ellen Reese, and
Marguerite Waller, pp. 178-233, Paradigm, Boulder, Colorado, 2007.
during the Second World War. Even when international legal regulations exist, they are
frequently ignored. In addition to the human suffering caused by war and armed conflict,
approximately three-quarters of all man-made cultural assets, including testimonies and evidence
of human creativity, were destroyed in this manner. In contrast, only about a quarter of all
cultural assets have been destroyed by natural disasters or have permanently disappeared due to
normal deterioration

Forced Migration
War causes forced migration, which can result in large population displacements. Forced
migrants typically contain a disproportionate number of artists and other types of creative people,
making the war's long-term effects particularly detrimental to the country's creative potential.
War has a negative impact on an artist's individual life-cycle output as well.

Conclusion
War is often seen as a destructive force, as it involves the use of violence and force to achieve a
goal, often resulting in the loss of life, destruction of property, and negative impacts on
communities and societies. There are many factors that can contribute to the outbreak of war,
including political, economic, and social conflicts, ideological differences, and power struggles.
War can also be motivated by religious or ethnic tensions, territorial disputes, and other issues.
Whatever the cause, war can have far-reaching and long-lasting consequences for all involved,
Thus, wars should be avoided because till the time they exist our world would never be able to
live peacefully.
 BIBLIOGRAPHY

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