Wars, Militarism and Arms Trade – What Peace Activists Can Do
ACTIVISM, 15 Jul 2024
Vijay Mehta – TRANSCEND Media Service
Introduction
13 Jul 2024 – One of the most pressing issues of our time is the prevalence of wars, militarism and thriving arms trade–three scourges blighting our humanity. What can we do to contain and eventually abolish war and suffering of people?
Global security depends on us managing global and national risks. We as humans are one of the few species who kill their own including children and women in warfare. With the recent threat of using nuclear weapons by NATO and Russia, we may be heading for the extinction of our species.
War is an organised use of violence and a crime against humanity. After 9/11, the world was ushered in a unbounded war which became a permanent war from Afghanistan to Iraq and now Russia – Ukraine and Israel – Palestine in the Middle East, with the worst cycle of war and violence ever witnessed in Gaza. Moreover, the global war on terror by nature have no boundaries, no limits on who could be targeted and killed.
There is large scale decline of morality and Rule of Law as witnessed in the recent continuing attacks of Israeli on Palestinians at Gaza. All efforts by international institutions like the United Nations, International Criminal Court, International Court of Justice who have given judgement ordering Israel to stop killing innocent Palestinians have been of no avail. The problem lies that these institutions have no power of enforcement or implementation mechanism to stop warmongering of rogue states. That shows in the present world, like the primitive times, might is right principle is the only one prevailing and countries carry on warmongering for exploitation of resources and hegemony.
Today’s leaders, with a very few exceptions, are gangsters driven by power, cronyism and corruption spreading fear all over the globe. No wonder wars in the Middle East, Ukraine and Sudan continue without any end in sight. Since its creation, in 1947 the CIA has toppled foreign regimes all over the world, perpetrating mass atrocities and genocide.
We live in a world where the powerful commit their evil deeds right out in the open. These include leaders, military, corporations and media who have a common agenda of continuing permanent wars. We need to challenge politicians and their right wing prejudices, mainstream neo-liberal media especially covering of the Israeli genocide against the Palestinians, the false cold war rhetoric of Ukraine’s war with Russia or absurd claims that Taiwan requires US protection against mainland China. It seems the real journalism is dead and dissent is forbidden. Instead of international law, mafia law prevails.
Wars
Paul Vallery, French poet and essayist said, “War is a massacre of people who don’t know each other for the profit of who know each other.”
Wars, whether they be large-scale conflicts between nations or smaller, more localized battles within states, leave behind a trail of devastation that extends far beyond the battlefield. Families are torn apart, communities are shattered, and entire generations are robbed of their futures. The human cost of war is immeasurable, and its effects are felt long after the guns fall silent.
But what drives nations and individuals to engage in war? The answer is often multifaceted, rooted in a complex web of political, cultural, economic, and social factors. Historically, territorial disputes, ideological differences, and struggles for power have been common triggers for conflict. In recent years, issues such as resource scarcity, ethnic tensions, and religious extremism have also played significant roles in fuelling violence.
David Wine and Theresa Arriola write about the unholy alliance of military, weapon industry and congress which operate a circular economy, perpetuating cycle of legalised corruption and wars. They have analysed how the system works which is below:
“The basic system works like this: First, Congress takes exorbitant sums of money from US taxpayers every year and gives it to the Pentagon. Second, the Pentagon, at Congress’s direction, turns huge chunks of that money over to weapons makers and other corporations via all too lucrative contracts, gifting them tens of billions of dollars in profits. Third, those contractors then use a portion of the profits to lobby Congress for yet more Pentagon contracts, which Congress is generally thrilled to provide, perpetuating a seemingly endless cycle.”
Militarism
Samuel P Huntington described the purpose of military in his book, The Soldier and the State. “The mission of the Armed Forces is combat, to deter and defeat enemies of the United States. The military must be recruited, organised, trained and equipped for that purpose alone. A military force is fundamentally anti-humanitarian: its purpose is to kill people in the most efficient way possible.
However, perhaps one of the most insidious drivers of war is the perpetuation of militarism – the glorification and pursuit of military power. Militarism fosters a culture of aggression and competition, where diplomacy takes a backseat to the rhetoric of strength and dominance. It encourages nations to prioritize military solutions over peaceful negotiations, leading to an escalation of tensions and an increased likelihood of conflict.
Furthermore, militarism perpetuates a cycle of fear and insecurity, where nations feel compelled to continuously bolster their military capabilities in order to deter potential adversaries. This arms race mentality not only drains resources away from much-needed social programs, but it also exacerbate existing conflicts and creates new ones. As military budgets swell (over $2 trillion), so too does the potential for armed confrontation, leading to a dangerous and unsustainable cycle of violence. Today, perhaps great power competition between USA, Russia and China is so full of tension that it could lead to World War III.
Selling weapons is the number one export of USA. The United States, unlike any other nation, maintains a massive network of foreign military bases around the world, over 900 bases in more than 90 countries and territories, stoking tensions and ready for combat including orchestrating overthrow and regime change in many countries.
About 55% of tax dollar in USA, people’s hard earned money is under the discretion of Congress and goes to Pentagon. US has become a war culture and its economy and military is addicted to permanent wars.
Arms Trade
Compounding the problem of militarism is the thriving arms trade – an industry built on the manufacture and sale of weapons of war. The global arms trade is big business, with billions of dollars in arms sales occurring each year. Arms dealers and manufacturers profit handsomely from the sale of weapons, often at the expense of human lives and global security. At present, global military spending is over 2 trillion with USA, China, Russia, India, UK, EU and Saudi Arabia being the biggest spenders among them. Governments and banks fund armed companies who sell weapons as for example to Israel in serious violation of International Human Rights law.
According to the Small Arms Survey, it is estimated that one billion firearms are in global circulation as of 2017. Gun violence is on the rise with American citizens over armed with 400 million guns. According to gun violence archive, weaponry has killed 24,000 people this year alone.
The consequences of the arms trade are devastating. Weapons flow freely across borders, fuelling conflicts and perpetuating violence in regions already torn apart by war. From assault rifles to fighter jets, these instruments of death and destruction wreak havoc on civilian populations, leaving behind a trail of death and devastation. Moreover, the proliferation of small arms and light weapons has fuelled the rise of non-state actors and terrorist organizations, further destabilizing already fragile regions in Africa and other parts of the world.
Solutions and Way Forward
So where do we go from here? I believe when any government or a ruler becomes destructive and destroy rights of its people, it becomes duty of citizens to stand up against the oppression. How do we break free from the cycle of continuing war, militarism, and arms proliferation? The answer lies in a multifaceted approach that addresses the root causes of conflict while promoting peace, diplomacy, and disarmament.
We need to incorporate ideas of non-violence in individuals and society at large, dedicated to the elimination of wars, arms race and poverty including the implementation of Human Rights. The way to resolve conflicts and achieving change though peaceful means – nonviolent resistance.
First and foremost, we must prioritize diplomacy over military confrontation. Diplomacy is the art of negotiation and compromise, and it offers a peaceful alternative to armed conflict. By engaging in dialogue and negotiation, nations can resolve their differences through peaceful means, avoiding the human and economic costs of war. Moreover, diplomacy fosters mutual understanding and cooperation, paving the way for lasting peace and stability.
In addition to diplomacy, we must invest in conflict prevention and resolution. This means addressing the root causes of conflict – such as poverty, inequality, and political instability – before they escalate into violence. By addressing these underlying issues, we can help to build more resilient societies that are less susceptible to the lure of war and militarism. This includes investing in education, healthcare, and economic development, as well as promoting good governance and respect for human rights.
Furthermore, we must challenge the arms trade and work towards disarmament. It also means reducing military spending and reallocating resources towards development, education, and healthcare – investments that enhance security and promote human flourishing.
But perhaps most importantly, we must cultivate empathy and solidarity. We must recognize the humanity in all people, regardless of nationality, religion, or ideology. We must stand in solidarity with those who suffer the consequences of war and militarism, and we must work together to build a world where peace and justice prevail.
The path to peace is an uphill struggle. But it is a path worth pursuing. By prioritizing diplomacy over military confrontation, investing in conflict prevention and resolution, challenging the arms trade, and cultivating empathy and solidarity, we can build a more peaceful and secure world for future generations. The choice is ours to make – let us choose wisely, for the sake of our children, our communities, and our shared future.
In my book, How Not To Go To War, I have explored a radical idea of establishing Departments for Peace in governments around the world, with a Minister for Peace and Disarmament at the Cabinet level who can advocate alternative solutions to war and work for global demilitarisation. He will be responsible for promotion of Culture of Peace – a multicultural environment in which conflicts can be resolved in a respectful and peaceful way. Furthermore, I have also advocated that peace must become institutionalised via infrastructures for peace in the same way war has been institutionalised. I have also called for a Peace Industrial Complex sustained by the same combination of public and private enterprise that keeps the Military Industrial Complex going generation after generation, that way we can make the world less violent. As a species to survive, all our efforts should be to tame and constrain the human capacity for violence and stop repression, slaughter and war.
In conclusion, preparing for war increases the chances of bringing it about: averting war requires global demilitarisation, including reduction and abolition of standing armies and their arsenals. This has been the thinking and prescription of many great thinkers of the subject such as Mahatma Gandhi, Immanuel Kant, Bertrand Russell, Albert Einstein and number of Nobel Peace Prize Laureates. We need to follow their wisdom to get rid of war and live in a peaceful world. We owe this to present and future generations.
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Vijay Mehta is an author and peace activist. He is chair of Uniting for Peace, founding trustee of Fortune Forum charity, and board member of GAMIP-Global Alliance for Ministries and Infrastructures for Peace. His books include: The Economics of Killing (Pluto Press, 2012); Peace Beyond Borders (New Internationalist, 2016; and the most recent How Not To Go To War (New Internationalist, 2019) where he proposes that in countries and communities, in governments, private institutions and media, Peace Departments and Peace Centres be established to report on and promote peace.
Tags: Anti-militarism, Anti-war, Arms Industry, Arms Trade, Conflict Mediation, Conflict Prevention, Demilitarization, Diplomacy, Nonviolence, Nonviolent Action, Peace, Warfare
This article originally appeared on Transcend Media Service (TMS) on 15 Jul 2024.
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