How can understanding historical conflicts help us build a more peaceful future?

Question

What does war have to do with my daily life? How has conflict shaped Global Politics? Is it possible to completely eliminate war and conflict?

Answer 1

There's also a quick answer: Studying the history of past conflicts can be done without the bias and passion that caused the conflict. Emotion is a block to clear, analytical thinking. When we transfer those analytics to current conflicts, we can build a more peaceful future by overcoming the passion.

Answer 2

And thank you for asking this question!

I think war doesn't have an affect on the daily life of most people in America since World War II, when food rationing and material shortages were common.

But that doesn't take away from the positive side of understanding conflicts. Some positives are that you can learn about how people dealt with the physical destruction of their cities, and the emotional effects of people dying in a city when they were bombed or shot at. It gives you a reference point to understand wars that are happening now in other countries (such as the Russia-Ukraine war), and it helps people to not repeat the worst mistakes made years ago.

Also it is not possible to eliminate conflict. There will always be dispute between countries, especially if they have a different culture than America.

Answer 3

When I think of war, that immediately triggers emotions that run through my mind, such as: entrapment and fear. Conflict is inevitable, as is War. However, there is good conflict or war that produces positive outcomes, and there is bad conflict or war that produces negative outcomes. War, has enabled societies to be restored and renewed; economically, politically, socially and in many instances geographically.

In the study of World History, American History, European History, Medieval History, etc., we have to include war and conflict in our study and teaching strategies. In order to understand the past, we have to revisit past historical events, such as wars and conflicts. We must research them, and study them, in order for any of them to make any sense and to be of any use to us.

Take the war in Israel and Palestine or Russia and Ukraine. Both are examples of travesties, and the global impacts of both of these wars will be felt for many years to come. They have not only killed hundreds and thousands of civilian women, children and the elderly, but these impacts have changed the geography and political structures of these countries. Its’ citizens have escaped their own countries to avoid conflict and war, and to ensure the safety of their families, and are living in refuge in many different countries throughout the globe, like the United States, Egypt, and many of them will never return to their homes ever again.

Global societies have banned together to provide the basic essentials (e.g. medicine, food, clothing, water) and it’s clear that conflict and war impact global politics and daily life.

Answer 4

Should we even bother trying to avoid conflict? Isn't conflict inevitable?

Yes! Conflict is inevitable. However, our study and understanding of conflict - especially historical conflict - helps us to harness its power to enact change. Conflict is a tool by which the most important changes in our lives take place! Should we be avoiding war? Certainly! But conflict is a principle to be embraced, a muscle to be exercised, and a skill to hone.

War is an important lens to view our daily lives through. Especially as daily news is saturated by devastating conflicts around the world, we need to be sensitive to the people directly involved in these devastating tragedies. Only by understanding the impact that war has on an individual or family, can we fully understand the impact it has on global politics and our daily lives.