ROBIN FOX (b. 1934) is an Anglo-American anthropologist. In his article ‘Fatal Attraction: War and Human Nature’, he talks about war as one of obvious human enjoyments. On the other hand, he also mentions the factors that have made the modern times as one of ‘war is dead’ periods. Many arguments are put forth to bring home this point: that force is losing its efficacy as a means of extending policy; that democracy is now in worldwide demand and democracies are of their nature pacific; that the growth of transnational corporations aided by better transport and instant worldwide communications is creating a level of international interdependence that will not tolerate war; that all this raises the cost of war to an unbearable level.
In ancient times there were two things in particular that made war seem necessary and unavoidable for those who chose to go to war. The first of these was family-based monarchical rule. The second was the agriculture-based or land-based economy.
In the modern age, a major development completely transformed this situation, and that is what is called the Industrial Revolution. Because of this revolution, today innumerable new economic means and opportunities have become available, utilizing which a person can make great economic progress. Even without becoming a landowner he can become economically wealthy.
This change is so massive and significant that it can, without any exaggeration, be called an ‘economic explosion’. It has completely transformed the entire political and economic scenario. Things that earlier seemed impossible have now become completely possible. Things that earlier appeared merely imaginary have now become a practical reality. The age of political and economic monopoly has come to a complete and final end.
After this revolutionary change, there is now no excuse left for anyone to go to war. A person, group or country can now obtain their economic or political objectives by availing of the vastly expanded opportunities that have now been made possible, using peaceful means alone. In such a situation, there is no need for war at all. War and violence would now only indicate a complete lack of awareness of the ample possibilities that are today available for obtaining one’s objectives using peaceful means alone. Today, war has been rendered utterly ineffective and useless in terms of producing any positive results.
After the border clash in the Galwan Valley, tensions between India and China flared up. Whereas the commonalty did speak about teaching a lesson to and wreaking havoc upon the opposing party, the top brass of both governments demonstrated better sense. P.S. Raghavan, chairman of the National Security Advisory Board (NSAB), an independent advisory body on security issues, said in an interview, “There is a strict code of conduct observed by the armies of both sides that we shall not shoot. Because if you shoot to kill, that is a sure way of launching an escalation which can go to a war.” (The Print, June 29, 2020)
Kelsey Broderick, China analyst at consultancy Eurasia Group, said in a note. “The fact that the 15 June incident, despite the fatalities, did not boil over into a larger conflict is one positive signal that higher-ups on both sides are not interested in sparking any kind of war.” (CNBC, June 16, 2020)
This shows that no party is willing to start aggression. They fully realize the catastrophic effects of war which no one is willing to suffer. This episode is ample proof that the age of war is over. The world has come to realize the inefficacy of war to obtain the desired objective. In this age, talking about war has become anachronistic and obsolete. This is an age of peace. Diplomacy is the only viable approach to resolve international disputes. Those individuals and organizations still wishing to achieve their goals through violence and warfare are ignorant of the times they are living in.
