Tribalism is the real cause of war

People have been slaughtering each other ever since we evolved. We went from slingshots and battering rams to muskets and blunderbusses to where we are now – thinking nothing of throwing chemicals that burn the skin off your bones or kill you from the inside out. Not to mention the devastation of the atom bomb.

All the money poured into developing this stuff could've been spent on the poor or eradicating disease. But man is inherently evil and on a power trip. What better way of gaining and maintaining power if not through fear.

Some people say it's because of religion. But isn't this just another form of tribalism? It's like blacks v whites... Oh wait... Mods v rockers... Hang on. See, we'll always find a way to differentiate and regroup.

We're one of the world's superpowers. This makes us safe and has a moral conscience. Since we supply arms to revolutionaries and governments all over the world, is it then our duty to step in when they take it too far? Should we stop the supply? If we did, would this stop people in the Congo butchering each other? Do we stick to fighting wars where there's a political gain, ie oil or territory? Should we just stay out of it completely?

War is a subject that provokes arguments, not just in parliament, but anywhere politically minded people meet. It's debated by drunks in kebab shops, student unions and dinner parties all over the world. The subject itself starts conflict.

I like to think of myself as humanitarian. If the crisis in Syria calls for an intervention, then we should do it. We have a duty as a wealthy superpower to step in. What doesn't sit well with me is the concept of playing God. How do we know we're making the right political decision for that country? Saddam - put in power, funded and trained by the US - tortured and oppressed his people. Now, after 7 years since he was overthrown, is Iraq better off? Aren't they still living in fear and oppressed?

I don't want a world police, a la Team America. But like in any every day situation, I like to think when shit goes down, someone, anyone, would intervene to bring peace, calm and safety.

First published on 23/11/2013