HOW EVERYTHING BECAME WAR AND THE MILITARY BECAME EVERYTHING
BOOK REVIEW PAPER
Rebecca Bowerman
POLIS 208: Introduction to International Relations
Dr. R Joustra
November 9, 2017
If one were to turn back the wheel of time through the history of humanity, they would be hard pressed to find a century without change. First, men travelled on foot, then on horse, then on ships and trains, planes and automobiles. Town criers were replaced by newspapers which were challenged by radios. Radios were trumped by televisions and televisions are now in competition with the internet. All these inventions and developments either came about from the needs of war, or were used to aid in war. Like these innovations, war has also evolved and changed just as society morphed alongside it, however it was nevertheless fairly easily defined and understood and was not perpetual until about the last quarter of a century. In her book, How Everything Became War and the Military Became Everything, Rosa Brooks presents a world where peace is not the
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” In sum, civilian control over the military was put in place to ensure that the military acted in the best interests of the entire population and did not misuse its substantial power. Brooks argues that in the current situation where the very nature of war has changed so drastically and the military is taking on new roles and identities, civilian control of the military is no longer the best way to ensure accountability and human rights. The best way is to create “robust laws, processes and institutions [that are] designed to ensure that all forms of power are exercised accountably” coupled with “an informed citizenry” and “fully integrated military” that can be brought about by an American where every person is a part of it
An article called, “The Real War,” written by Roger J. Spiller, begins with a quote by Walt Whitman, “The real war will never get in the books.” The author writes about an interview with Paul Fussell, who was a soldier in World War Two and has written many books about World War One and World War Two. Fussell is very opinionated and critical about other books written about these wars, asserting they are not realistic or portray the true essence of what really occurred by soldiers and other people participating in the wars. I claim that it is impossible to convey the actual personal feelings and emotions of those involved in a war in books or any other forms of media.
Ever since World War II, the last war that garnered full American support, the percentage of American citizens enrolling in the U.S. Army has diminished significantly. The U.S. is a major military power in the present world; American soldiers are engaged in many multi-theater positions, consequently dispersing troops over various regions worldwide. As only one in ten citizens has served in the US Army, American knowledge of military conditions is rapidly lessening along with the national harmony that complements such knowledge. Therefore, the comprehension that American security is closely associated with a formidable military never resonated within the greater part of modern American citizens. Although antiwar activists may decry compulsory conscription as unconstitutional, it needs to be reinstated in order to solidify the meaning of being an American citizen, boost the economy by providing jobs, and unify the American people with enhanced homeland security.
Nothing can impact society like war. War can be viewed as noble and just, or cruel and inhuman, as well as everything in between. War affects everyone in society whether they are fighting in a foreign country or waiting at home for a loved one to return. War is an indispensable part of civilization; found at every chapter of human history. It is the culmination of the basic survival instinct when provoked. As has the technique of battle; society's view on war has changed as well. Today the act of war has become almost shameful, whereas in earlier eras war was glorified and heroic. American society's view on war has changed also. Our history, even as a young country has seen a great deal of conflict.
"The historian Will Durant calculated that there have been twenty nine years in all of human history during which a war was not underway somewhere." (Hedges, 2003). In fact more than half of my lifetime has consisted of the United States, my country, being at war. It is sad to know that I have no experienced peace. It is also alarming because I, like my peers, have become somewhat immune and numb to war. We have come to think of it as just another issue going on, and do not really see it as the drastic event that it really is. It is something that is just there; just in the background.
The word “War” sends shivers through many people because of the effect war has on individual groups or people, minorities, soldiers and the society.
Advancements in technology and science contributed to one of the most gory and bloodiest wars in the annals of human existence. These new technological advancements revolutionized how people regarded war. War was no longer where the opposite forces fought in a coordinated battle. War evolved into a game of cunning strategy where the side with the bigger, more powerful, and smarter toys played better. This led to a fierce competition where each side tried to create the smarter machines and better weapons, leading to deadly mass killing weapons in the process.
Whether it is acceptable for the government to restrict any of our civil liberties during times of war, is of great concern and consideration. This essay argues that sacrificing some civil liberties occasionally to keep peace, defend our nation, and silence opposition, is reasonable. Our nation has already been through times where civil liberties have been muted in order to maintain their governmental influence. With the help of outside sources, the argument for limitation of civil liberties is made compelling and engaging.
The most important and recurring theme portrayed by the John Marsden in his novel ‘Tomorrow When The War Began’ is change. The theme of change is used on the protagonists, Homer’s, behaviour, the title of this novel, and through the use of a language feature, illusion. Change is important in the novel as the characters are forced to cope with the devastation of their lives and their environment caused by war. Change is also important as it will affect us at some point in our lives. We never know what the results would be, and can only hope that our skills will make us resilient enough to cope with whatever life brings us.
War is a universal phenomenon, it is a violent tool people use to accomplish their interests. It is not autonomous, rather policy always determines its character. Normally it starts when diplomacy fails to reach a peaceful end. War is not an end rather than a mean to reach the end, however, it does not end, and it only rests in preparation for better conditions. It is a simple and dynamic act with difficult and unstable factors which make it unpredictable and complex. It is a resistant environment where the simplest act is difficult to perform. In this paper, I will argue why war is a universal phenomenon and what are the implications of my argument to strategists.
Carl Von Clausewitz’s work in On War, remains just as relevant in modern day military strategy as it was in the past. His main points, on differences between absolute war and real war, and how war is a continuation of policy controlled by the “trinity”, will help any military or political leader avoid pitfalls when planning for today’s challenges. The theory of absolute war can aid military and political leaders understand the basic concepts of war, and their applicability in war gaming and creating military strategies. Moreover, the reality of war, aids leaders to understand war as a continuation of state policy, with the political aims being controlled by the trinity. The trinity is made up of the people, the government, and the military.
One thing obviously has not changed: war is still an ongoing part of the life of a nation. The United States especially has been involved in so many wars and conflicts from its formation that one begins to wonder whether it has become embedded in American society. According to Sun Tzu, “Warfare is the greatest affair of state, the basis of life and death, the Way (Tao) to survival or extinction. It must be thoroughly pondered and analyzed”. Sun Tzu stated that there are five factors to take into account when considering who will come out of a conflict victorious. These are: The Tao, Heaven, Earth, the generals and the laws for military organization and discipline. These five overarching themes f...
The two paradigms that are discussed within Frahm’s article is the government paradigm and the market paradigm. The main question that is asked when discussing these two paradigms is should the government be major providers for various public and social funded services, or should the public and social services be going to the private sector. The military would be considered the market paradigm that would be considered private with their own set of laws and governing procedures whose main service is to protect the country that we live in. Should the people that’s main duty of protecting our country also oversee protecting the men and women who serves. This gives a lot of power to the military which is based on the chain of command (Frahm and Martin, 2009).
Every day we are surrounded by stories of war. In fact, we have become so accustomed to it, that we are now entertained by it. Video games, movies, and books filled with heroes who once dominated the battlefields. However it is constantly stated, “no good comes from war.” Even famous songs state “war... what is it good for… absolutely nothing.” But what if war was actually necessary? Throughout history, we see examples of the good things wars have brought. War has freed slaves, modernized medicine, brought down evil empires, and even brought countries together
All living things need the resources provided by our natural world to live, leading to them adapting to specific environments. Animals in particular are mobile creatures that move from place to place searching for the best environments for their survival. The most intelligent creatures in our animal world are human beings and like other animals, they moved from place to place while organized into races in search of the elusive desirable environments. However, there is always the likelihood of finding fellow humanity already thriving in that environment. This resulted to conflict as competition for the inadequate resources arose. Consequently, human beings formed nations, allegiance to the national system meant loyalty to the governance, and regions and they formed military groups to defend their resources. However, the military warfare has changed with international understanding, though the idea still rests heavily on fight for resources. Further, international politics illustrates the causes and effects of modern military war have changed due to chan...
War has been around for centuries. From the time modern civilizations began, war has played an integral part in human history. It shaped the world into the modern world we live in. War has been said to be a great motivator, for example, the Great Wall of China was built to fend off the attackers from the north. However, the negative aspects of war far outweighs any positive effects it might have. The destruction of civilizations, cities and countries, mass killings of men, woman and children alike, the disastrous effect it has on economy and the after effects of war can last for centuries.