True in many cases, but there were wars before there was capitalism.
this post was submitted on 13 Dec 2024
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Yes, every non-capitalist country throughout history has been a beacon of peace lmao
Humans are human. Capitalism is absolutely a driver of some conflict, but conflict is driven not only by economic interests, but also political, ethnic, religious, and other interests.
Capitalism is the primary driver of wars, it determines the basic structure of what is and is not permissible, generates nation-states (these did not always exist, actually), and then creates the conditions by which the national bourgeoisie nation-states push for war in order to become international bourgeoisie (imperialists).
For example, the US keeps the middle east in a regular state of war to prevent them from having independent policies regarding oil. It is concerned about oil because of the petrodollar. It is concerned about the petrodollar because it is th3 primary financial war instrument by which it jeeps other countries sending superprofits its way and otherwise screwing with countries using interest rates. And it does those things because the US is the global seat of capital, it is where the big finance companies are based.
How many wars have there been in the middle east since 2000? How has the US been involved? Do they just do it for the thrill of domination?
Look dude, I'm not here to argue about the US's absolutely fucked foreign policy, and in absolutely no fucking way am I saying any one conflict is not driven in whole or in part by capitalism.
But "Capitalism is the primary driver of wars" is a fundamentally false statement. Just because it's a driver of some or even most modern conflicts does not make it "the primary driver of wars." War is a well documented and studied social phenomenon that predates capitalism by thousands of years, maybe millions. Fucking chimpanzee tribes war with each other. There are thousands upon thousands of wars throughout human history that prove your statement wrong.
I thought it would be implied that I'm speaking about modern times. The economic system is the msin driver in large societies, though. In Europe, prior to capitalism, the primary determinant was feudal interests.
Chimps don't have war. They fight, but is every skirmish a war? Wars come from creating and wielding armies.
You are obviously wrong because you left out the entire USSR and what happened to Eastern Europe post WW2. Go read a history book!
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Your mind must have added the words "ever" somewhere in the meme. Meme is in present tense, so accurate.
Capitalism is a source of so many problems, yet somehow you singed and missed.
I can't figure out exactly why Russia invaded Ukraine, but I don't think it's capitalism. The oligarchs certainly didn't appreciate it very much now. My guess is it was for some misguided desire for legacy?
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This is as reductive as when people say religion is what causes all wars. Humans cause war. Race, religion, nationality, money, power,etc. All of them,and more, have been used as pretexts for war.
everybody wants to rule the world in some way or another even if it means killing everyone else smh
It's easy to forget capitalism (and imperialism) aren't the natural state of things and there were wars before it. Of course, that's doesn't mean it doesn't perpetuate and indeed requires wars and exploitation to continue existing.
Oh man I was already beaten by a lemmy.world user saying something stupid
Why the downvotes?
Well IMO it is a bit simplistic to just toss it to capitalism.
I do agree that capitalists profit from wars and historically have started wars for profit, but the current conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza are a bit more complicated.
The Gaza colonialist takeover is as straighforward as you can get.
Dead people do not produce excess value, alive people do.
I hate to think that way but if you put yourself in the shoes of a capitalist exploiting Palestinians with the help of Israel I think would be much more profitable than killing them.
Just like in Germany during WW2 capitalist interests give way to fascism and hate.
Israel is a settler-colonial project, it exterminates Palestinians for land.
I do agree that it is settler-colonial project.
I also do not think land is the main purpose of the genocide. I think the extermination of Palestinians(and other Arabs) is the main reason, taking the land is a very good additional incentive.
But neither I nor You can know what happens in the heads of genocidal maniacs so we can only guess.
We can only guess based on the economic structures, trends, and stated goals going back to the founding Zionists. It has always been a land grab, they are always seeking new land to sell and fuel its settler-colonial economy. Never attribute evil to madness when you can analyze the material and economic basis for it.
It's ignoring the crusades
Anybody reading Aristophanes in these times of demagogues and world wars? I just finished Birds and Peace. Studies of democracy, Greek hegemony, and hellenization feel like a refresher on familiar problems and their perspectives. I think he was writing about 250 years after Homer, and today we're writing about 250 years after the US framers.
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