Will there ever be another major war between European powers again?

[Ben Kenobi]

In response to the title of the thread...

"Ever since I assumed my present office my main purpose has been to work for the pacification of Europe, for the removal of those suspicions and those animosities which have so long poisoned the air."

-Neville Chamberlain, 1938

[axi]

The world's first (and the only memorable) direct democracy has plunged all by itself into a war that lasted 30 years and led the state in question from superpower status to end up under a gruesome dictatorship.

Athens, 5th century B.C., The Peloponesian War

So do not be so confident about democratic or liberal regimes.

I wouldn't even reccomend placing your vote on coomunism either, even though I am a communist myself. The Soviet Union has been in a war situation with China before (1950 IIRC). Vietnam was invaded by China in 1980. Of course these were not strictly communist regimes, but still, as long as there are different state entities, however similar they may be, war is always a possible outcome.

War (strife) is the "father of everything", according to Heracletus. Some here may argue that all technological progress was made for war means, thus war is good for mankind's progress. however, destruction isn't. So our goal should be to have war without destruction. In other words, pure competition. My guess is that only a global revolution could approximate that, by reducing the state entities down to a size and importance that minimizes the attriting effect of strife and maximizes such competition (this, of course, on top of the effect of the cultural change that such an upheaval could bring).

on top of that, one should never forget that, as long as Capitalism is on the helm, it's internal shortcomings, concerning the accomodation of the produced surplus can only be solved by destruction. This means that, as long as destruction remains an essential part of the system, no solution, such as the one mentioned above can be realised. Hence, the need of the overthrow of Capitalism before war can be declared extinct from Europe or anywhere in the world, in that matter.

prey, do not misunderstand my ramblings, for I am quite drunk right now.

[alva]

I can see one war happening in Europe over the next generation though, and that is one against foreigners.
I hope it won't happen but the signs are there.
IMHO it wouldn't be a bad thing to slow down imigration, to not put oil on the fire sort of speak.

[Tripledoc]

I think the problem with Europe and war is that Europe is simply too urbanized.

Peasants make the best soldiers as they are not squamish at the sight of blood, and have a well-developed physique.

Waging war in an urbanized society where almost two thirds of the land, in central Europe almost all of the land, is built up area, is difficult. A war of maneuvre is next to impossible.

As seen in Palestine and Iraq once the chief urban centres are occupied it is impossible to maintain the peace, and the situation degenerates into guerilla warfare and civil unrest.

New methods of information technology, and the generally more critical populace makes pacifying propaganda against conquered peoples difficult.

[Alexander's Horse]

Sadly, there's potential for warfare in Eastern and Southern Europe, particularly in successor states to the Soviet Union - look at Chechnya, Moldova, the Baltic, particularly Russian populations in mini-states, the Kalinigrad region, Russian minorities in other states like Ukraine and Belorussia.

European integration via the EU has been enormously beneficial to those parts of Europe which are part of it in terms of mitigating conflict but Yugoslavia showed how fragile those kinds of integration can be.

The key avoiding conflict is economic development and integration. Let's hope there won't be any more major European wars in our lifetime.

[Tripledoc]

Bear with some nitpicking here.

Isn't Chechnia technically still a part of the Russian homeland?

I don't know if was ever a Soviet Republic. Thus it cannot be called a succesor state.

I might be wrong.

[PLATO]

Originally posted by Alexander's Horse
The key avoiding conflict is economic development and integration.

Regional, pan-regional, or international? What about competeing blocks? Isn't world wide economic integration necessary in order for it to prevent war? Couldn't regional integration actually spur war as competing blocks vie for the same markets and resources?

These are all questions that need answers if we are to shut the door on war.

[Tripledoc]

It depends on whether these economic blocs are autarkic.

[Sava]

I was just thinking about this topic today. I'm sure there will be a huge war some time in the future. Remember, WW1 was supposedly the "war to end all wars". If it's one thing I've learned about human beings is, they love to kill each other.

Humans suck. Hopefully an asteroid will obliterate us.

[Lonestar]

Klingons are worse.

[PLATO]

Originally posted by Sava
I was just thinking about this topic today. I'm sure there will be a huge war some time in the future. Remember, WW1 was supposedly the "war to end all wars". If it's one thing I've learned about human beings is, they love to kill each other.

Humans suck. Hopefully an asteroid will obliterate us.

1st Armaggedon and then wormwood? Sava, your scaring me!

[Sava]

Originally posted by PLATO


1st Armaggedon and then wormwood? Sava, your scaring me!

btw, your namesake had a great quote, "Only the dead have seen the end of war" -- Plato

[PLATO]

How very true. A statement on human history wouldn't you say?

[Sava]

Originally posted by PLATO
How very true. A statement on human history wouldn't you say?

Which is why we need to all die.

[PLATO]

Originally posted by Sava
Which is why we need to all die.

In time Sava...in time.