> I can't think of many wars that were not the product of politicians run amuck.
I don't think you know of many wars then.
Let's see:
- World War II (Europe)
Not caused by a politician, caused by a dictator (a different thing). Arguably caused by economic and social forces applied to Germany after WW1.
- World War II (Asia)
Not caused by a politician. Arguably caused by either nationalism which was an outgrowth of their forced modernisation; or caused by encirclement and the risk of losing their new empire.
- World War I (Europe)
Not caused by a politician. Simplistically caused by nationalism, perhaps caused by economic issues.
I'm sure there must be some examples of wars caused by politicians - but it's doing a disservice to the complexity of issues to point at a single person, and giving them too much power.
You missed my point in a grotesque way: GOVERNMENTS start wars, not people. I used the term politician because I was making a commentary about our government. Governments are the sole decision makers in all of the major wars for centuries. People, regardless of culture, do not want war. People do not wage wars. People just want to live a decent life and be left alone. I don't know many who wake up every day thiking about going to war against someone thousands of miles away.
Neither World War would have happened if a set of governments had not decided to either trigger them (after various events) or participate in them.
I don't think you know of many wars then.
Let's see:
- World War II (Europe) Not caused by a politician, caused by a dictator (a different thing). Arguably caused by economic and social forces applied to Germany after WW1.
- World War II (Asia) Not caused by a politician. Arguably caused by either nationalism which was an outgrowth of their forced modernisation; or caused by encirclement and the risk of losing their new empire.
- World War I (Europe) Not caused by a politician. Simplistically caused by nationalism, perhaps caused by economic issues.
I'm sure there must be some examples of wars caused by politicians - but it's doing a disservice to the complexity of issues to point at a single person, and giving them too much power.