Premium Essay

State-Based Warfare: The Sociology Of War

Submitted By
Words 1485
Pages 6
Violence is almost as old as life itself as various organisms have and to this day compete to survive. Yet the general understanding of state based warfare only dates back to around 3500 BC while most knowledge on pre-state warfare isn’t much older than 15,000 years old. Renowned anthropologist and archaeologist R. Brian Ferguson’s evidence proves no “highly organized warfare” began before 10,000 years ago. What could have possibly sparked organized collectives to engage in armed conflict in recent times? There are different explanations from sociologists, psychologists and anthropologists; each of which have varying ideas on why war occurs. The sociology of war is a subfield of sociology and deals with how societies behave in war, what …show more content…
One school of thought that is of particular interest to those studying the sociology of war is conflict theory. This theory was established by Karl Marx, C. Wright Mills and Max Weber and includes the general notion that power holds society together. Conflict theory states those with power and wealth will do whatever it takes to keep it even if it means suppressing the poor because society is always in a state of dispute. Marx’s idea of conflict theory focused on two primary classes, the bourgeoisie who held the majority of wealth and power and the proletariat, the majority of common folk. This uneven amount of power can lead to war if the majority class is subject to conditions that are extremely unfavourable. Marx declared an armed proletariat revolution way the only way to destroy the bourgeoisie's power. More often than not, many civil wars occur this way such as Nelson Mandela’s fight against apartheid in South Africa or where slaves rebelled during the Haitian Revolution to later form an independent state., This divide in class greatly applies to the military-industrial complex of a country where …show more content…
When it comes to warfare, cultural and social anthropologists look at it as a relationship between states where excessive force is used to attain specific goals. While psychologists might explain warfare through death drive theory and instinct, an anthropologist tends to stray away from these ideas due to the fact that they usually don’t take into account the frequency and intensity of war, the societies, or the location. Furthermore, anthropologists Douglas Fry and Patrik Soderberg found most deaths due to violence with hunter gatherer groups were one on one quarrels or small “family feuds”*. War is also fairly recent and therefore must have a different explanation than it “being in our nature”. The majority of anthropologists that focus on war today generally have a cultural materialist approach where environmental and geographical factors come into play and cause there to be a competition for resources such as mates, food, land or trade. Often, wars occur because of the need for these resources such as the Bougainville Civil War over copper revenues or the civil wars in Liberia over timber. In fact, from the years 1950 to 2000, more than 90% of major armed conflicts have taken place in countries with biodiversity hotspots. Culture materialism can explain war in a cost versus benefit scenario, where if potential benefits outweigh costs, it may be

Similar Documents

Free Essay

Marjuana

... Sociology of Developing Countries 300 Dr. Donna Robinson Sunday, February 01, 2015 Africa: Somalia Somalia has a population of about 1048,043 this evaluation was produced from the official census system taken by the Somalia government calculated in Somalia by the Nomads and refugee’s movements in reaction to famine and world clan warfare. (July 2014 World Fact Book) This region is made up of 85% Somalia, 15% non-Somalia including 30,000 Arabs and Bantu people. Somalia has generally been allocated into three regions – Somaliland, Puntland and South Central Somalia. Resulting in the collapse of the SiadBarre regime (1969-91) the country descended into civil conflict with overwhelming consequences. These results has made gross domestic products and human development between the lowest in the world .Out of 170 countries Somalia is in the middle of the five least developed countries measured by 2012 Human Development Index. The pre-eminence of accustomed Clan- based system obstruct social cohesion and inescapable traditional practices, such as polygamy and forced marriages, exclusion of women from education and employment opportunities. In which will results in some of the worst gender equal opportunity indicators in the world. (World Bank.org 2015) Effects of war and Peace have the clan categorize...

Words: 984 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

A Historical View on Terrorism and Terrorist Ideologies

...A Historical View on Terrorism and Terrorist Ideologies A Historical View on Terrorism and Terrorist Ideologies Terrorism is a unique and frightening form of violence. Terrorism does not care if it is a time of peace, conflict, or war. One can never escape the threat of terrorism and it will most assuredly happen when one least expects it. A terrorist act is committed to bring down a great deal more than just a few buildings. Terrorists have what they believe with all their hearts to be a purpose behind their actions. Quite often there is such a deep rooted hatred imbedded into their souls that they feel they must act against the evils that haunt their lives (U.S. Army, 2000). The Department of Defense defines of terrorism as "the calculated use of violence or the threat of violence to inculcate fear; intended to coerce or to intimidate governments or societies in the pursuit of goals that are generally political, religious, or ideological" (U.S. Army, 2000). To put it into more simplistic and understandable terms, terrorism is committed for generally three main reasons: 1. Terrorist are against multi-party governments such as in the United States. 2. Terrorists are against specific religious groups. 3. Terrorists are against a person of a specific race. Terrorists come in every shape and size and terrorism is a tactic that may be used by any philosophy or by people with no philosophy at all, only objection.  To assume there is a terrorist handbook that...

Words: 1317 - Pages: 6

Free Essay

Defeating the Enemies Will

...Defeating the Enemy’s Will: The Psychological Foundations of Maneuver Warfare DAVID A. GROSSMAN The will to fight is at the nub of all defeat mechanisms … One should always look for a way to break the enemy’s will and capacity to resist. Brig. Gen. Huba Wass de Czege Defeating the enemy’s will. That is the essence of maneuver warfare, that you defeat the enemy’s will to fight rather than his ability to fight. But how do you defeat a man’s mind? We can measure and precisely quantify the mechanics of defeating the enemy’s ability to fight, and it is this tangible, mathematical quality that makes attacking the enemy’s physical ability to fight so much more attractive than attacking the enemy’s psychological will to fight. At some level none of us can truly be comfortable when we dwell on the fact that our destiny as soldiers and military leaders ultimately depends on something as nebulous and unquantifiable as an enemy’s “will,” and we are tempted to ignore such aspects of warfare. But somewhere in the back of our minds, a still, small voice reminds us that ultimately the paths of victory run not through machinery and material, but through the hearts and minds of human beings. So what is the foundation of the will to fight and kill in combat and what are the vulnerable points in this foundation? In short: what are the psychological underpinnings of maneuver warfare? To answer these questions, students of maneuver warfare must truly understand, as we have never understood before, the...

Words: 17523 - Pages: 71

Premium Essay

Global Political Economy

...economy originated in moral philosophy (e.g. Adam Smith was Professor of Moral Philosophy at the University of Glasgow), it developed in the 18th century as the study of the economies of states — polities, hence political economy. In late nineteenth century, the term "political economy" was generally replaced by the term economics, used by those seeking to place the study of economy upon mathematical and axiomatic bases, rather than the structural relationships of production and consumption (cf. marginalism, Alfred Marshall). History of the term Originally, political economy meant the study of the conditions under which production was organized in the nation-states. The phrase économie politique (translated in English as political economy) first appeared in France in 1615 with the well known book by Antoyne de Montchrétien: Traicté de l’oeconomie politique. French physiocrats, Adam Smith, David Ricardo and Karl Marx were some of the exponents of political economy. In 1805, Thomas Malthus became England's first professor of political economy, at the East India Company College, Haileybury, Hertfordshire. The world's first professorship in political economy was established in 1763 at the University of Vienna, Austria; Joseph von Sonnenfels was the first tenured professor. In the United States, political economy first was taught at the College of William and Mary; in 1784 Adam Smith's Wealth of Nations was a required textbook. Glasgow University, where Smith was chairman of Logic...

Words: 39122 - Pages: 157

Premium Essay

Biological Warfare

...Biological Warfare: Effects on USA Abstract The purpose of this study is to determine the response of the American public to the growing threat of biological warfare which has been amplified by the war on terrorism. The study focuses on various news items, government researches, public responses and independent researches to gauge the effects of the perceived biological threat. The research shows clear linkages between rising terrorism in the world and an increase in public knowledge of the sort of threats these terrorist organizations pose, especially the risk of a biological attack which could lead to a catastrophe. The research also sheds light on the rising voices in the media and public which demand concrete strategies to prepare for any and all eventualities. We also see how these demands shape public policy and scientific research. Lastly, we conclude that there is a definitive causal link between people’s perception of the biological terror threat and their public and private behavior. Introduction The primary research question we have is that in what ways has the use or threat of biological weapons of mass destruction affected the lives of US citizens in recent history? America has been on the receiving end of terror attacks and the year 2001 is still fresh in everyone’s minds. The terror attacks on the world trade center were soon followed by the anthrax attacks which were perpetrated by a lone, disturbed scientist. The fact that a single man, without any proper...

Words: 1837 - Pages: 8

Free Essay

Media Sociology

...different theorists, fortify media power. Critically analyse how these devices work, according to various theorists, and reflect upon which best explains communicative power. The social construction of reality is mediated through the communicative powers of stereotypes, narratives, ideologies and discourses and the media is extremely powerful in communicating messages with these devices. It will be argued that discourses are the most powerful communicating device used by the media in the postindustrial era today. Furthermore as per Croteau & Hoynes (2014, p. 9), the analysis will focus on recognised mass media that is readily available in print, film, radio, television, sound recordings and the Internet. Poststructuralists within sociology examine the structures of society and human agency. Human agency or action is influenced by sociocultural factors such as ideology that shape human identity and act subconsciously over an individual. Ideology is the system of meaning that helps explain, define and make value judgments about the world (Croteau & Hoynes 2014, p. 152). As we live in an interconnected world there are many ideologies as there are social structures in any given society. Related to this is that dominant ideas are hegemonic. Marx created the superstructure, which is the domain of ideas for example religion, legal structures, family, institutions and these are influenced by the interests of the economically dominating classes in society. For Gramsci, ideological...

Words: 2099 - Pages: 9

Premium Essay

Sweet

...Here are notes covering the several classes dealing with the culture, population & urbanization, and introduction to sociology. Not all these materials were covered in class and not all the materials covered in class are to be found in these notes. But you will find a generally close correspondence between class and readings in what follows. Be aware that these notes are not intended to replace reading the text. Also, these are “rough” notes. They were devised initially for my own use. They are not polished and stand open to correction. But I think you want them, so here they are. Dr V What is culture? A complex system of meaning and behavior that defines the way of life of a given group or society. Material and non-material Characteristics of culture: Shared Learned Taken for granted Symbolic (meaningful) Defining idea: transmission by non-biological means Distinctions(?) between human and animal cultures (language & tools). Elements of culture: Language: symbol systems. Does language shape culture? Norms: cultural expectations for how to behave in a given situation. Implicit vs. explicit; ideal vs. real. Folkways/mores/laws/taboos Social sanctions Ethnomethodology and the study of norms. Beliefs. Values: Value-orientations Institutions. Cultural diversity: Dominant culture. Most support from major institutions. Function of power. Subcultures. Often develop as a result of exclusion from mainstream society and culture. Counter-cultures ...

Words: 5518 - Pages: 23

Premium Essay

Compare and Contrast Japanese and Western Imperialism in Asia and the Pacific

...Compare and Contrast Japanese and Western Imperialism in Asia and the Pacific 23 October 2013 at 18:10 The Japanese pursuit for an empire in South East Asia helped changed the balance of world power away from Europe, by taking their most lucrative colonies. Soon after the Japanese defeat in World War II, most of the colonies won their independence from their European masters. This essay will be arguing that despite the vast geographical distance and cultural, racial differences, as well as the different time periods involved, Japanese and European intentions were very similar, and that these similarities contributed to the weakening of Imperialism as a doctrine. To do so, this essay will be examining the reasons for the Japanese conducting policies of imperialism, when they expanded, what methods they use to expand and the systems of government. Japanese Imperialism will be compared to those of a well known European power active in the region, Britain. J.A Hobson’s seminal work Imperialism: A Study puts forward the idea of the ‘Economic Taproot of Imperialism’. A taproot is the largest root in some plants and is the plant’s primary source of nourishment. Military aggression is simply capitalist expansion. He described it as “As one nation after another enters the machine economy and adopts advanced industrial methods, it becomes more difficult for its manufacturers, merchants and finaciers to dispose profitably of their economic resources and they are tempted more and more to...

Words: 3840 - Pages: 16

Premium Essay

Rising Tide of Nationalism

...theories, and then proceed to answer the following question: which theory better explains the rise of nationalism? Illustrate your answer in the context of Macau, China or any one country that you are familiar with. Brief Introduction The word nationalism was created in the late 18 centuries, but it only got popular from the 1830s. It used to convey the idea of identification with a nation in which a group of people shares common ancestry in the early time, but later it began to link with patriotism and with aspirations to statehood. This concept became widely accepted by more and more people during twentieth century. Nationalism now is defined as a subjective feeling of a membership in a nation; a belief that a nation should form the state, or a belief that the identification with the nation should be above all other forms of identity. Nowadays Nationalism has set off a wave around the world. Primordialism and constructivism can be used to explain this phenomenon. We will see the key arguments of both theories. The first one is primordialism. Key arguments of two theories The emergence of the theory of primordialism was in the second half of the eighteenth centuries, in general, primordialism assumes political identity are innate and largely unchanged. It comes with when you are born or in nature way. Since the identity is with you by born, so it’s extremely difficult to choose or change it. Primordialism is an argument, which contended that political identity is ancient...

Words: 3022 - Pages: 13

Free Essay

C: UsersMikeDocuments-WaldenClasses Kam I Principles of Social ChangeKamMoore M Kam1 Final.Pdf

...Knowledge Area Module I: Principles of Societal Development Student: Michael Moore Michael.Moore@waldenu.edu Program: PhD in Applied Management and Decision Sciences Specialization: Leadership and Organizational Change KAM Assessor: Dr. Javier Fadul Javier.fadul@waldenu.edu Faculty Mentor: Dr. Javier Fadul Javier.fadul@waldenu.edu Walden University February 5, 2011 ABSTRACT Breadth This Knowledge Area Module (KAM) broadens common knowledge of societal and cultural development by looking beyond economic and conflict theories for understanding other positions regarding social advancement. The Breadth Component studies societal and cultural development in terms of evolutionary, cyclical, and fundamentalist theories and demonstrates why it is important to looking beyond the popularly accepted knowledge about social development represented by economic and conflict theory. This approach provides a more robust generalization that more adequately describes social advancement, and concludes that classical researchers did not consider leadership as a social segment to be studied, that influences societal and cultural development. Leadership understanding of societal and cultural development is critical for enabling them to lead positive social change. ABSTRACT Depth The Depth section compares modern research in societal and cultural development to the theories of classical researchers in order to further develop the findings of the classical study, and to determine if leadership...

Words: 29149 - Pages: 117

Premium Essay

Consequences of Modernity!

...period and with an initial geographical location, but for the moment leaves its major characteristics safely stowed away in a black box. Today, in the late twentieth century, it is argued by many, we stand at the opening of a new era, to which the social sciences must respond and which is taking us beyond modernity itself. A dazzling variety of terms has been suggested to refer to this transition, a few of which refer positively to the emergence of a new type of social system (such as the "information society" or the "consumer society") but most of which suggest rather that a -- 2 -- preceding state of affairs is drawing to a close ("post-modernity," "post-modernism," "post-industrial society," "post-capitalism," and so forth). Some of the debates about these matters concentrate mainly upon institutional transformations, particularly those which propose that we are moving from a system based upon the manufacture of material goods to one concerned more centrally with information. More commonly, however, these controversies are focused largely upon issues of philosophy and epistemology. This is the characteristic outlook, for example, of the author who has been primarily responsible for popularising the notion of post-modernity, Jean-François Lyotard. 1 As he represents it, post-modernity refers to a shift away from attempts to...

Words: 40503 - Pages: 163

Free Essay

Multinational Lenses on Migration

...Multidimensional Lenses on Migration Dilara Sönmez Middle East Technical University Department of International Relations, #1541077 ABSTRACT National and international security has gained new meanings and elements in recent years, especially after Cold War. The changed concept of security has been more and more broadened with accelerated effects of globalization and shocking September 11 events. The new issues of security agenda may be listed as immigration, global terror, climate change, energy, internal violence, human security etc. This article recovers mainly how irregular migration effects national and human security in a multi dimensional framework, from theories to the cases under several sections of the paper. Firstly, the definition and types; secondly motivations of immigration are outlined with a historical and theoretical briefs. Then the general perception on migration and motivations of migration will be connected more specific sections that are, in sequence, international lenses on migration regarding state and public securities and more specifically, the lenses of the US and European Union on migration. The conclusion part put my arguments as done during article that are both agreed and disagreed with the mainstream theories and the opinions of expert that are stated in the article. Definitions and Types of Migration The term of migration has several definitions that give almost similar meanings. Generally, in social science literature, Migration...

Words: 5218 - Pages: 21

Premium Essay

Strategy

...The Grand Strategy of the United States by R.D. Hooker, Jr. INSS Strategic Monograph Institute for National Strategic Studies National Defense University The Grand Strategy of the United States R.D. Hooker, Jr. INSS Strategic Monograph National Defense University Press Washington, D.C. October 2014 Opinions, conclusions, and recommendations expressed or implied within are solely those of the contributors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Defense Department or any other agency of the Federal Government. Cleared for public release; distribution unlimited. Portions of this work may be quoted or reprinted without permission, provided that a standard source credit line is included. NDU Press would appreciate a courtesy copy of reprints or reviews. Cover: President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden meet with members of the National Security Council in the Situation Room of the White House hours before his national address, September 10, 2014 (The White House/Pete Souza) First printing, October 2014 Contents The Roots of American Grand Strategy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 A Century Like No Other. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 The Ends of Grand Strategy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 The Means of Grand Strategy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...

Words: 14241 - Pages: 57

Free Essay

Globalization

...GLOBALIZATION THE ESSENTIALS GEORGE RITZER A John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., Publication Globalization Globalization A Basic Text George Ritzer This balanced introduction draws on academic and popular sources to examine the major issues and events in the history of globalization. Globalization: A Basic Text is a substantial introductory textbook, designed to work either on its own or alongside Readings in Globalization. The books are cross-referenced and are both structured around the core concepts of globalization. 2009 • 608 pages • 978-1-4051-3271-8 • paperback www.wiley.com/go/globalization Readings in Globalization Key Readings and Major Debates Edited by George Ritzer and Zeynep Atalay This unique and engaging anthology introduces students to the major concepts of globalization within the context of the key debates and disputes. Readings in Globalization illustrates that major debates in the field are not only useful to examine for their own merit but can extend our knowledge of globalization. The volume explores both the political economy of globalization and the relationship of culture to globalization. The volume is designed so it may be used independently, or alongside George Ritzer’s Globalization: A Basic Text for a complete student resource. 2010 • 560 pages • 978-1-4051-3273-2 • paperback Order together and save! Quote ISBN 978-1-4443-2371-9 GLOBALIZATION THE ESSENTIALS GEORGE RITZER A John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., Publication This edition first...

Words: 168078 - Pages: 673

Premium Essay

Term Paper

...Chapter1 Quiz | 1 INCORRECT | | __________ is the performance of business activities designed to plan, price, promote, and direct the flow of a company's goods and services to consumers or users in more than one nation for a profit. | | | A) | Global strategy | | | B) | Marketing | | | C) | Marketing concept | | | D) | Regional marketing concept | | | E) | International marketing | | | | | | | | 2 INCORRECT | | Which of the following is the most critical difference between domestic marketing and international marketing? | | | A) | The environment in which marketing plans must be implemented | | | B) | The different concepts of marketing | | | C) | The change in marketing goals | | | D) | The difference in technological standards | | | E) | The change in corporate objectives | | | | | | | | 3 CORRECT | | Dylan is planning to take his successful fast food venture global. Which of the following is the reason why his task could be more complicated than that of the domestic marketer? | | | A) | The international marketer must change his marketing goals in the various countries of operation. | | | B) | The international marketer must deal with at least two levels of uncontrollable uncertainty instead of one. | | | C) | Technological standardization could challenge effective customization in different markets. | | | D) | International trade regulations still do not allow free trade...

Words: 5514 - Pages: 23