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War, as a means of resolving conflict, is not only primitive but also profoundly destructive. It undermines the very fabric of humanity and, paradoxically, often perpetuates the very tensions it seeks to resolve. While some view war as a necessary evil, history has shown that it serves narrow sectarian or political interests rather than the common good.

Nowhere is this more evident than in the modern world, where war is perpetuated by powerful nations, primarily the West, through direct involvement or proxy engagements. The sheer horror, cost, and futility of war demand that humanity embrace more evolved means of resolving disputes.

The claim that wars resolve conflicts is a deeply flawed premise. World War I, dubbed the “war to end all wars”, gave rise to geopolitical tensions that culminated in World War II just two decades later. Similarly, the US-led wars in Iraq and Afghanistan failed to bring lasting stability to the Middle East. Instead, these conflicts created power vacuums, exacerbated sectarian divides, and birthed extremist groups like ISIS.

In Africa, the Rwandan Genocide of 1994, rooted in unresolved historical grievances, highlighted how war and violence fail to address the root causes of conflict. To argue that war resolves disputes is to ignore the cyclical nature of violence, where each conflict sows the seeds of future strife.

The role of the West in perpetuating wars cannot be overstated. The military-industrial complex, particularly in the United States, thrives on conflict. Arms sales to volatile regions, often under the guise of promoting “security”, have fuelled violence in places like Yemen and Syria. The US alone accounted for 40 percent of global arms exports between 2017 and 2021, with many of these weapons finding their way into active war zones. NATO’s intervention in Libya in 2011, purportedly to protect civilians, destabilised the country, turning it into a breeding ground for militias and human trafficking networks. These actions reveal a pattern of self-interest masquerading as humanitarian concern.

Wars are also exorbitantly expensive. The global cost of war extends beyond military expenditures, encompassing economic disruption, humanitarian crises, and the long-term burden of reconstruction. The Iraq War alone cost the US over $2 trillion, a staggering sum that could have been used to address pressing global challenges such as poverty, education, and climate change. Similarly, Africa has borne the economic brunt of prolonged conflicts. The International Monetary Fund estimates that wars reduce a nation’s annual GDP growth by an average of 2.3 percent. The human cost, however, is incalculable — millions displaced, families shattered, and entire generations robbed of stability and opportunity.

The horror of war defies description. Images from conflict zones reveal unspeakable suffering — charred landscapes, mass graves, and traumatised survivors. In Syria, the civil war has left over half a million dead and displaced millions more, with many fleeing as refugees. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, decades of conflict over minerals have subjected civilians to unimaginable atrocities, including widespread sexual violence. The scars of war linger long after the fighting stops, manifesting in the form of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), economic instability, and social fragmentation.

The world celebrated Human Rights Day on December 10. It is imperative to recognise that war is not a solution but a problem in itself. It reflects the worst of human nature — greed, fear, and the lust for power — while ignoring our capacity for empathy, creativity, and cooperation. To end the cycle of violence, we must confront the systems that profit from war, hold warmongers accountable, and invest in building a just and peaceful world. The horrors of war are not inevitable; they are a choice. It is time we chose differently.

— The writer is a PhD student in International Relations-