The political activism of any state can be linked to the economic outlook that determines a country’s status on the world stage. However, the most revealing aspect can be considered military might, which symbolizes a country’s readiness to defend itself in the event of a threat. In Why We Fight, Jarecki E. raises questions about whether U.S. involvement in military conflicts is beneficial. Jarecki explores the problems that followed the U.S. involvement in the war over the past few decades until 2005. The U.S. is one of the most potent political-economic superpowers, which has built up its power through military-industrial support and regular military participation. For the U.S., participation in war undermines the institution of democracy, which dehumanizes society.
The possibilities for the U.S. to create a superpower were almost limitless after World War II. The country gradually became strong in political circles and now holds a solid economic and military position. Involvement in the war undermines sociality, ethics, and virtue in people. Some people say, “I wish we had not, but sometimes you have to,” suggesting that the nation should accept this given (Why We Fight 00:20:35). Some argue that only participation in war and preventive strikes can stop the violence that terrorist attacks generate in the U.S. (Why We Fight 00:22.00-00:22.17). These claims belong to traumatized people directly harmed by the terrorist attacks. The feelings must be understood and accepted, and even the statement about the need to attack Iraq seems reasonable. However, this way, it is easier to reinforce inequality under the guise of lofty goals or unnecessary taxation (René 260). The continuation of this policy could result in the institutions of family, society, and statehood being undermined and democracy ceasing to exist, even in America itself.
A negotiated peace is one potential solution to conflicts arising out of military affairs. Political activism is not always a tool for the development of society because its organization is unstructured and pursues personal goals more than public ones (Renée 259). It leads to the current problem that the U.S. military industry may prove to be a tool that will harm America itself. U.S. politicians use tax dollars and human capacity to create weapons for “defense,” but the implications for democracy are not in question (Why We Fight 00:30.00-00:31.40). U.S. politicians have used the military industry as a primary tool to protect their population, thus making efforts to shake up democracy and statehood. Violence and its use in everyday life concretize the fact that the military is praised instead of the fact that war as such should never exist. In 2003, most of the U.S. federal budget supported the military industry and the Iraq war (Why We Fight 00:33.00-00:35.00). The population did not get the support they needed, believing that military violence would be enough to keep them safe. Admiration of military power leads to dehumanization and the destruction of social cohesion.
Current U.S. military-industrial policies damage the institution of democracy and dehumanize society. By engaging in wars, the U.S. uses people and their feelings to elicit approval for military action. Casualties among the population become driving factors in approving participation in the war. The potential harms of such military actions are glossed over and not mentioned in official speeches by politicians. Why We Fight emphasizes that political activism is not a sufficient argument for engaging in military conflict and managing public life. He points out that the state’s prosperity because of military power is debatable. The U.S. should recognize that the principle of democracy will cease to exist if society always chooses war over negotiation and ceases to seek peace. By continually creating violence and supporting wars at the expense of budgets and population pressure, the U.S. could lose democracy forever.
Works Cited
Renée, B. Van Vechten. California Politics. A Primer. 5th ed., SAGE, 2019.
Why We Fight. Directed by Eugene Jarecki. Sony Pictures Classics, 2005