People, Politics and Wars Strategic nexus.

The nexus between people, politics, and wars is complex and multifaceted having shaped human history in various ways throughout time. This nexus reflects the intricate interplay of human agency, political dynamics and violent conflict. Understanding this nexus is essential for analysing historical events, contemporary conflicts, and efforts to promote peace and security.

People are the actors in both politics and wars. They are influenced by various factors such as ideology, religion, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. People's actions and decisions can lead to the escalation or resolution of conflicts, depending on their motivations and interests. Politics involves the governance of societies and the distribution of power and resources. Political systems, institutions, and leaders play a significant role in shaping the dynamics of conflicts and wars. Political ideologies, foreign policies, and diplomatic relations impact the likelihood and nature of conflicts between nations and groups. Wars are armed conflicts between organized groups, typically states or non-state actors, that seek to achieve specific objectives through violence. Wars can arise from various causes, including territorial disputes, resource competition, ideological differences, and struggles for power. The conduct and outcome of wars are influenced by military strategies, technological advancements, economic resources, and public support. The complex nexus between people, politics, and wars can be viewed in several ways: In this 21st century turbulent geopolitical times, a review of resorting to warring is of great importance. Are there advances in warring to resolve people’s political aspirations?

The causes, conduct and consequences of wars: People's grievances, aspirations, and perceptions of injustice often fuel conflicts and wars. Political leaders may exploit these sentiments to mobilize support for war efforts or to pursue their own interests. Economic disparities, political oppression, and identity-based grievances can contribute to the outbreak of violence. Political leaders and military commanders make critical decisions during wars, such as determining objectives, deploying forces, and negotiating peace settlements. People's participation in wars as soldiers, civilians, or resistance fighters shapes the course and outcome of conflicts. Propaganda, censorship, and information warfare play a role in influencing public opinion and morale. Wars have profound consequences for people's lives, societies, and political systems. They result in loss of life, displacement of populations, destruction of infrastructure, and economic disruption. Wars can also reshape political landscapes, leading to regime changes, shifts in power dynamics, and the emergence of new alliances or conflicts with socio-economic impacts.

Socio-economical impacts of warring.

Wars can have numerous adverse socio-economic impacts, short and long term. Unfortunately, the adverse socio-economic impacts of wars are far-reaching and multifaceted, affecting individuals, communities, and entire societies with inter-generational implications. Some of the most significant ones included in the current narrative.in the loss of lives, injuries, and psychological trauma for combatants and civilians alike. The toll on human life causes immeasurable suffering and disrupts families and communities. Wars often lead to mass displacement as people flee violence and seek safety elsewhere. This creates refugee crises, strains host countries' resources, and exacerbates social tensions.

?Infrastructure such as homes, hospitals, schools, roads, and utilities are frequently damaged or destroyed during wars. This undermines economic productivity, impedes access to essential services, and hampers post-war recovery efforts. In fact, wars disrupt economic activities, including agriculture, manufacturing, trade and investment. Business operations are interrupted, markets collapse, and investor confidence declines. The resulting economic recession or depression leads to widespread unemployment, poverty, and deprivation.

?In fact, wars create humanitarian crises characterized by food shortages, malnutrition, disease outbreaks, and inadequate access to healthcare. Humanitarian organizations face challenges in delivering aid due to security risks and logistical constraints.

Inclusive of wars often result in environmental destruction through the use of weapons, deforestation, pollution, and the disruption of ecosystems. This has long-term consequences for public health, biodiversity, and natural resources, exacerbating environmental challenges such as climate change. Wars can lead to social breakdown, eroding trust, cohesion, and social capital within communities. Divisions along ethnic, religious, or ideological lines deepen, leading to increased social polarization, discrimination, and violence.

The psychological impact of war extends beyond physical injuries, with many individuals experiencing trauma, anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Access to mental health services may be limited or non-existent in conflict-affected areas, exacerbating the suffering of survivors. Least we forget, educational systems, depriving children and youth of access to schooling and learning opportunities. This not only hampers their personal development but also undermines future prospects for economic growth and social stability.

The socio-economic impacts of wars can persist long after the cessation of hostilities. Reconstruction efforts are costly and time-consuming, diverting resources away from other development priorities. The legacy of war, including physical and psychological scars, impedes progress towards sustainable development goals. Efforts to prevent conflicts and promote peace are essential for mitigating these impacts and fostering sustainable development and human well-being. The question remains whether there are beneficiaries to warring.

?Beneficiaries of warring:

While wars bring about significant destruction and suffering, there are certain groups or entities that may receive short-term political and economic advantages. It's essential to note that these perceived benefits often come at the expense of those that outweigh the costs and consequences of war.

The overall costs in terms of human lives, suffering, and societal devastation far outweigh any perceived economic or political gains. The long-term consequences of war, including economic stagnation, social disintegration and political instability undermine the well-being of entire populations, hinder prospects for peace and development. Efforts to prevent conflicts, resolve disputes peacefully, and address root causes of violence are essential for promoting stability, prosperity, and human security. Some leading beneficiaries of warring include companies involved in the production and sale of weapons, military equipment, and other defence-related goods which profit from wars through increased demand for their products. This includes defence contractors, arms manufacturers, and suppliers of logistics and support services to the military. The question remains whether the beneficiaries of warring pivot their earthly fiscal gains within the holistic humanitarian prism?

Individuals and entities engaged in the international arms trade may exploit conflicts to sell weapons to belligerent parties, often exacerbating the duration and intensity of conflicts.

Wars over control of natural resources such as oil, minerals, timber, and water can benefit companies and governments involved in resource extraction and exploitation. They may gain access to valuable resources or secure advantageous contracts in conflict-affected regions.

Non-state actors, including warlords, militias, and criminal organizations, may profit from war through activities such as looting, extortion, smuggling, and illicit trade in arms, drugs, or other commodities.

In some cases, political leaders and elites may benefit from wars by consolidating power, rallying public support, and advancing their political agendas. They may use wars to distract from domestic issues, scapegoating external enemies, or justify authoritarian measures.

Certain countries or regional powers may seek to expand their influence or pursue geopolitical objectives through proxy wars or direct military interventions. They may support allied factions or governments in conflict zones to secure strategic interests or counter perceived threats.

Companies providing services such as security, reconstruction, humanitarian aid, and development assistance may secure lucrative contracts from governments, international organizations, or NGOs involved in conflict management and post-war recovery efforts. Extremist groups and ideologies may exploit conflicts to recruit supporters, spread propaganda, and advance their radical agendas. Wars can provide fertile ground for extremism to thrive, leading to increased polarization and violence within societies.

?Warring and its consequences on humanitarian rights. Wars often leading to widespread violations and undermining the protection of human rights in conflict-affected areas. The extent of this impact can vary depending on factors such as the nature of the conflict, the conduct of parties involved, and the effectiveness of international humanitarian law (IHL) enforcement mechanisms. There are several ways in which wars can impact humanitarian rights: Wars frequently result in violence targeting civilians, including indiscriminate attacks, deliberate targeting of non-combatants, and acts of terrorism. This violates the fundamental right to life and exposes civilians to harm, displacement, and trauma. In fact, wars often force people to flee their homes in search of safety, leading to internal displacement or cross-border refugee flows. Displaced populations face risks of persecution, exploitation, and violations of their rights to housing, livelihoods, education, and healthcare. Parties to conflicts may arbitrarily detain individuals, including civilians, combatants, and suspected adversaries, often without due process or access to legal representation. Detainees may be subjected to torture, inhumane treatment, or extrajudicial killings, violating their rights to liberty, fair trial, and freedom from torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment.

We must never forget that wars are often accompanied by widespread sexual violence, including rape, sexual slavery, and forced marriage, perpetrated against women, men, and children. This violates the rights to bodily integrity, autonomy, and gender equality, and can have long-term physical, psychological, and social consequences for survivors. Children are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of war, facing risks such as recruitment into armed groups, forced labor, sexual exploitation, and attacks on schools and healthcare facilities. These violations undermine children's rights to protection, education, health, and development, jeopardizing their future well-being and prospects for recovery.

Parties to conflicts may impose restrictions on humanitarian access to populations in need, obstructing the delivery of life-saving assistance, including food, water, shelter, and medical care. This violates the principle of humanitarian assistance and exacerbates the suffering of vulnerable communities.

Finally, wars often result in the destruction or looting of cultural heritage sites, monuments, and artifacts, erasing collective memories, identities, and cultural diversity. This violates the right to cultural heritage and deprives future generations of their cultural inheritance. In many conflict situations, perpetrators of human rights violations and violations of international humanitarian law enjoy impunity due to weak rule of law institutions, lack of accountability mechanisms, or political constraints. This perpetuates cycles of violence, undermines trust in justice systems and fosters a culture of impunity.

Conclusion: Wars have a profound and far-reaching impact on people and their politics. Wars challenge humanitarian rights, principles of human dignity, equality, and justice. Efforts to protect and promote humanitarian rights in conflict contexts require robust legal frameworks, effective accountability mechanisms, and sustained international cooperation to address the root causes of violence, protect vulnerable populations, and uphold the principles of human rights and humanitarian law. People, Politics and their Wars continue on an unprecedented scale, having not learnt our repeated strategic lessons of the 20th century. In the current times of the second decade of the 21st century geopolitical stress needs serious reflection, as wars abound. People and politics need to recalibrate their warring strategizes.

?Neil Sharma. May 06, 2024