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War-weariness is the public or political disapproval for the continuation of a prolonged conflict or war. The causes normally involve the intensity of casualties—financial, civilian, and military. It also occurs when a belligerent has the ability to leave the conflict easily but continues to stay. War-weariness normally leads to a distrust in government or military leadership and can spark protest and anti-war movements. It can also be fueled when a belligerent is found guilty of war crimes, which can create domestic and international backlash. Rates of enlistment and the morale of the armed-forces are often affected by war-weariness.
It has relevance for war initiation but less so for war involvement.[1]
In 1988's The Causes of War, Australian historian Geoffrey Blainey argues, "If war-weariness was one of the spokes in Mr. Neville Chamberlain's umbrella of appeasement, and if it was one of the Anglo-French attitudes which fed Hitler's confidence, it cannot be called a peaceful influence".[2] Even so, Blainey concludes, "War-weariness in a nation often promotes peace and war-fever promotes war, but there have been notable instances where war-weariness promoted war".[2]
War-weariness is less likely to appear in military dictatorships, especially those with heavy propaganda and censorship. According to Immanuel Kant, democratic nations have a better chance of having unpopular news of the war reach the masses, which increases their chance and level of war-weariness.[3]
Historical examples
editReferences
edit- ^ Cashman, Greg (2013-07-29). What Causes War?: An Introduction to Theories of International Conflict. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. ISBN 978-0-7425-6652-1.
- ^ a b Blainey, Geoffrey (1988-09-07). Causes of War, 3rd Ed. Simon and Schuster. pp. 8, 292. ISBN 978-0-02-903591-7.
- ^ Cashman, Greg (2013). What Causes War?: An Introduction to Theories of International Conflict. Rowman & Littlefield. pp. 234–235. ISBN 978-0742566521.
