The aim of this study is to help unearth the perceptions held regarding the purposes of war. It is also the objective of this study to indicate ways and means through which the same war may be eradicated. It is the intention of this study too, to be able to assess the political, philosophical, and legal implications of war. the purpose of this research work is to help shed light on the etiological meanings of war, as well as its relationship and interaction with the nature of humans.
This research will also aspire to bring to light the ethical considerations and views held by pacifists, realists, and those who are in the support of the theory of just war. This is the group that supports the application of morals into going to war. Ultimately, this research will attempt to show ways and means through which war could be eradicated, despite the wide variations with regard to its purposes.
As Saint Augustine once said, ‘the purpose of all war is to ultimately get peace’ (Adington, 1984). It is in light of this that t this research is committed to the analysis of why war occurs in the first place. This way, it would be easier than to appreciate why people at times engage in war; in order that they may have peace. As such, this would then act as a springboard towards the eradication of the same (Riper & Scales, 1997).
The main motivation behind the research on this topic is that war, once it erupts affects all of us in one way or the other (Esdaile, 2003). Thus, we are both nursing wounds and injuries afflicted to us or grappling with the losses that have accompanied property and life destruction (Heindel, 2006). Indirectly, we have to deal with a dwindling economy and more importantly, it denies many people to live to see their full potential in life (Gowing, 1997).
Having been introduced during lecture classes into the topic of war purposes and its eradication, one is bound to dig deeper into the annals of history, in a quest to find out more on the view of others regarding war, plus the patterns of war that have historically been witnessed. Through this research, it is hoped that a chance shall be created for assessing wide perspectives held by people of all walks of life, regarding the issues of war. At the same time, it is the conviction of other people that indeed, war is a necessary evil (Carl Von, 1968). Still, there are others who loathe war (Kramer, 2005).
It is the intention of this study that other people may find the information valuable and at best, make a point to research more on this contentious issue that affects us all.
Given that wars have been witnessed for as long as the age of civilization (Kem, 2006), this research will however not lay emphasis on the purposes of wars that graced the era before the cold war. As such, this research will be restricted to the post cold war era and more specifically, the wars that have especially been witnessed in the new millennium.
The time period of the topic is limited to the wars that have been witnessed from the year 2000, to-date. Geographically, this research paper will attempt to explore the wars that have been witnessed in Iraq. This study is limited to this area because they are the most recent occurrences historically. Furthermore, these are wars that all can identify with, and the destruction, loss of lives, and property are there for all to see.
Moreover, it is also possible to propose measures that could be taken to eradicate the future occurrence of unrest in these regions, bearing in mind that these wars are far from over. The critical context tied to this war is with respect to the underlying global war on terrorism, and the critical angle issue of the country’s production of weapons of mass destruction this is seen as a threat to international security (Rawls, 2007).
The study will therefore attempt to answer such questions as the role of the war played in the perpetuation or lack, of the fight against terrorism. At the same time, this study will attempt to answer the question of ethical considerations as far as going to war in Iraq is concerned. In addition, the role that politics play in war shall also be assessed, and whether or not war is regarded as politics by different means.
The purposes of states in war will be evaluated. Do states really go to war in a bid to assert their national interests? These are some of the questions that this study shall attempt to answer. Ultimately, the discovery and the assessment of the purposes that wars hope to achieve will act as a guide towards the eradication of the same.
Bibliography
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Carl Von, C. (1968). Writing on war. Middlesex, England: Penguin books, 164.
Esdaile, C. (2003). A new history on the peninsular war. Basing stoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
Gowing, N. is the coverage by media a help or hindrance in conflict prevention? Washington, DC: Carnegie preventing deadly conflict commission, 10.
Heindel, M. (2004). The Rosicrucian philosophy. War philosophy, 2 (6), 11.
Kem, J. D. (2006). “Ends, ways and means of military transformation”. Journal of airspace and power 4 (7), 13-18.
Kramer, M. (2005).” The outbreak of the June 1967 six-day war vs. the Soviet Union. “. Journal of cold war studies. 8 (1), 12.
Rawls, J. People and law. The journal of ethics. 11(2) (2007): 161-175.
Riper, P. V., and Scales, R. H. (1997). “War preparation in the twenty first century”, parameters 27 (2), 10.
Shaw, T. (2002), ” Martians, Marty’s, and miracles: the cold war and religion in the 1950s,” journal of cold war studies, 4 (2): 3-22.