Today we see the rise of International wars, which is also referred to as large-scale conflicts. In the past the term conflict was used to refer to World War I and World War II. The use of the term today indicates that there is a clash of civilizations, which are also known as struggle between religions, political systems, ethnic groups, or nationalities. When these conflicts arise, they usually result in a larger number of casualties among the population. This rise in wars is due to the larger number of people living in smaller geographic areas, along with technological advances that make some weapons capable of destruction from underground mines or pits.
As described earlier there are several different definitions of conflict. It has been used to refer to all conflicts involving humans from a single nation state (genocide) to that of entire countries (ethnic cleansing) and from a religious perspective to that of nations with different religious beliefs. There are also those who consider the concept of conflict to be a matter of economic power, where the economically stronger nation will fight off the weaker one for the economic benefit of its citizens. When people consider different definitions of conflict, it is important to determine what exactly motivates individuals to participate in such conflicts.
Although some have identified biological, psychological, and economic causes for human behavior, most scholars agree that there are four primary motivations for human groups to participate in conflicts. These are needed for reproduction, survival of the species, societal order and conflict resolution. The motivation to fight for one’s identity, group, society, culture, or religion is unique to a human being, and only found in certain situations.
The motivation to fight for one’s group is based on genetic programming that is present in all humans. This was designed to ensure the continuation of the species by ensuring the survival of those who are members of a specific population. In smaller societies and civilizations that lack this necessary sense of identity, fighting for group survival often leads to the subjugation of smaller sub-populations or even entire tribes. A smaller sub-population may consist of religious minorities, local merchants, or ethnic groups. When a group is subjected to mistreatment, such as in smaller conflicts, it may become difficult for that group to continue its cultural practices or continue to exist as a distinct group within a larger society.
For the larger societies, the need for survival often justifies conflict and the use of force. When a society is faced with an existential threat, a large-scale population is forced to choose between its social identity and its continued existence. Often this means the population consists of smaller groups that do not have a sense of cultural or historical continuity. In these circumstances, the group may fight to protect its smaller identity from external threats, but the outcomes of such conflicts are usually devastating, resulting in massive loss of life.
Another common cause of conflict is when a smaller group feels that it has been treated unfairly by the larger society. This can result in a series of revenge attacks, until the situation reaches a point where the society in question no longer exists. When this happens, the society that no longer exists may start to form a government. Such instances often lead to wars, especially if there are substantial ethnic or cultural differences among the population. The greater the differences among the various groups, the more prone it is for the society to attack one another. Whether fighting off the larger society or protecting its smaller ones, all conflicts eventually destroy the stability that was once existed between the various groups.
Finally, one of the most dangerous conflicts that can occur in a large scale environment is when a society secedes from smaller ones. If, for instance, a group is in a state of near starvation, they will often try to secede from their surrounding society. Even when a nation has achieved significant wealth, a group that does not view itself as part of that larger society will often try to secede, sometimes doing so peacefully, sometimes choosing to fight until they are forced to do so.
In order to avoid all conflicts of this scale in the future, humanity needs to learn how to deal with and control the issues that arise from large scale societal problems. Humans have an unfortunate tendency of doing what is politically expedient at the expense of what is best for the group as a whole. Humans have not come close to mastering the art of warfare. The only way we can hope to effectively protect our interests in the future is by developing leadership skills that will make us better able to control groups and lead them to success rather than allowing their self-interests to win out in the name of power
