Social Problems: A Down-to-Earth Guide, 11e James M. Henslin

Chapter 14War, Terrorism, and the Balance of Power

CHAPTER 14

War, Terrorism, and the Balance of Power

Learning Objectives

14.1 Explain why war is common and know the essential conditions of war and the fuels of war.

 

14.2 Describe how extensive war has been and currently is.

 

14.3 Discuss the perspectives that emerge when you apply symbolic interactionism, functionalism, and conflict theory to war.

 

14.4 Summarize what reduces war, the costs of war, dehumanization, the military-industrial complex, accidental war, and biological, chemical, and cyber warfare.

 

14.5 Discuss terrorism: revolutionary, repressive, state-sponsored, and criminal, as well as weapons of mass destruction.

 

14.6 Summarize social policies regarding terrorism, the MAD way to peace, policies that can bring peace, and how self-preservation figures in the survival of humanity.

 

14.7 Discuss the likely future of war and terrorism.

14.1 - The Problem in Sociological Perspective

• Why Is War Common? • Why Do Some Groups Choose War?

Fear of nuclear attack was rampant in the 1950s and 1960s. Teachers taught their children to hide under desks, while others built bomb shelters in their back yards. The school photo is from 1952 in New Jersey, the bomb shelter from 1961 in California.

Why Is War Common?

• An Instinct to Fight? • The Sociological Answer: Societies

Channel Aggression

As discussed in this box, the Yanomamö are a violent people. Shown here is a Yanomamö man in a non-violent activity. Ebene, a hallucinogenic drug, is being blown into his nose.

Why Do Some Groups Choose War? • Three Essential Conditions of War

1. Cultural tradition

2. Antagonistic situation

3. Moving to engagement• Seven “Sparks” That Set Off War

– Sociologists found seven common sparks igniting war in history

LO 14.1

In trying to understand war, sociologists look at __________ .

A: cultural norms

B: human instinct

C: urban blight

D: individual tendencies

In trying to understand war, sociologists look at __________ .

A: cultural norms

B: human instinct

C: urban blight

D: individual tendencies

There are common “sparks” of war throughout history.

A: True

B: False

There are common “sparks” of war throughout history.

A: True

B: False

14.2 – The Scope of the Problem

• War in the History of the West • Measuring War in Terms of Deaths

War in the History of the West

• U.S. is one of the most aggressive nations in the world. – From 1850-1980, we sent troops out 150

times.

• Not currently “at war”– We “intervene”

Measuring War in Terms of Deaths

• Our Growing Capacity to Kill – The effect of technology

• The Slaughter Continues – Education and history has not changed us

LO 14.2

Rather than going to war, the U.S. __________ other countries.

A: “collaborates” with

B: attacks

C: “intervenes” in

D: learns from

Rather than going to war, the U.S. __________ other countries.

A: “collaborates” with

B: attacks

C: “intervenes” in

D: learns from

The U.S. has fought over 300 wars in its short history.

A: True

B: False

The U.S. has fought over 300 wars in its short history.

A: True

B: False

14.3 - Looking at the Problem Theoretically

• Symbolic Interactionism• Functionalism• Conflict Theory

Symbolic Interactionism

• Perceptions and the Arms Race– Guessing intentions led to more weapons

• Perceptions and the “First Strike

Functionalism

• The Functions of War– Extension of Territory – Economic Gain – Social Integration – Social Change – Other Functions – Multiple Functions – Functions for the Victors – Functions for the Losers – Functions for Individuals – Dysfunctions of War

The functions of the form of hostility, conquest, and killing called war are discussed in the text. This painting is of one of the numerous sea battles between the European powers in the 1500s.

What dysfunctions of war can you identify in this photo from Somalia?

Conflict Theory

• Three Reasons Nations Go to War:1. Resources

2. Expansion of Markets

3. A Military Machine

• The Military Machine, the Power Elite, and the Globalization of Capitalism

LO 14.3

Symbolic interactionists stress the importance of __________ in going to war.

A: facts

B: conflict

C: functions

D: perceptions

Symbolic interactionists stress the importance of __________ in going to war.

A: facts

B: conflict

C: functions

D: perceptions

The United States military has one and a half million personnel on active duty and another million or so in reserve.

A: True

B: False

The United States military has one and a half million personnel on active duty and another million or so in reserve.

A: True

B: False

14.4 – Research Findings

• What Reduces War? • Money Spent on War • Deaths From War • Dehumanization in War • The Military–Industrial Complex • The Possibility of Accidental War • Biological and Chemical Warfare • Cyber Warfare

MORTEN ENDER, professor at the United States Military Academy at West Point, does research on war, peace, and the military. In this essay, he discusses how he became interested in doing research on the military and his research experiences in Iraq. Here is what he wrote for you.

What Reduces War?

1. Type of religion does not reduce warfare.

2. Type of government does not reduce warfare.

3. Prosperity does not reduce warfare.

4. A shared religion does not reduce warfare between nations.

5. A common language does not reduce warfare.

6. More education does not reduce warfare.

7. Being “neighbors” does not reduce warfare.

Money Spent on War

• The Cold Numbers – $1.5 trillion a year arming

• What Is a Billion? • Lost Alternative Purchases

– What else could we buy? • But What Choice Is There?

Deaths From War

• In the 1700s, wars were small.– Waged on fields of honor

• Today, no lives are spared in war.– Expensive, involves civilians– No longer “pageantry”

Dehumanization in War

Characteristics of Dehumanization1. Increased emotional distance

2. Emphasis on following orders

3. Inability to resist pressures

4. Diminished personal responsibility

Examples of dehumanization:5. Prolonged conflicts

6. Nazis and Japanese

7. U.S.

The extent to which dehumanization can alienate us from ordinary human feelings is incredible. To measure the effects of compression and decompression, German doctors placed this inmate of a concentration camp in a pressure chamber. As the doctors manipulated the air pressure, they observed and photographed the man’s death.

Children often bear the scars of war. These children are fleeing flaming napalm that was intended to root out Viet Cong. The photo was taken in 1972 in Trang Bang, Vietnam.

The Military–Industrial Complex

• The Military as an Economic Force– Billions of dollars go to people who produce

armaments. • The Business of Death • A Glimmer of Hope

– Nuclear disarmament

The Possibility of Accidental War

• Computer Failure• Human Error • Nuclear Accidents• Nuclear Sabotage • Nature• The Significance of Symbolic Interaction

Biological and Chemical Warfare

• Biological and Chemical Agents in War• The Treaty with a Giant Flaw • Continued Research and Production

The human costs of war far outnumber the

soldiers who are killed and maimed. Shown

here is a victim of Agent Orange, a

defoliant used by U.S. troops in Vietnam to

clear the forests to disrupt the movement of

troops and supplies from the north. Birth

defects, especially the absence of vital

organs (brains, eyes, kidneys, and so on),

were a major factor in terminating the

massive use of chemical defoliants during

this war.

LO 14.4

For soldiers to kill others during war, a certain amount of _________ must be done.

A: deforestation

B: dehumanization

C: assimilation

D: integration

For soldiers to kill others during war, a certain amount of _________ must be done.

A: deforestation

B: dehumanization

C: assimilation

D: integration

Billions of dollars go to people who produce armaments.

A: True

B: False

Billions of dollars go to people who produce armaments.

A: True

B: False

14.5 – Research Findings: Terrorism

• Revolutionary Terrorism • Repressive Terrorism • State-Sponsored Terrorism • Criminal Terrorism • Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs)

Video: NYC Terrorist Plot

http://abavtooldev.pearsoncmg.com/sbx_videoplayer_v2/simpleviewer.php?projectID=APcontent&clipID=nyc_terrorist_plot.flv&ui=2

Revolutionary Terrorism

• Background Factors1. Segregated minority

2. Oppression

3. Higher-than-average unemployment or inflation

4. External encouragement

5. Historical “them”

6. Frustrated elites

• Political Theater and the Goals of Revolutionary Terrorism

• A Sense of Morality

A boy with a toy? No, a soldier with a real rifle shopping in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Why are there such violent feelings against the United States, when most Americans feel

they are trying to help? This photo was taken in Karachi, Pakistan.

Repressive Terrorism

• Argentina • Cambodia • Russia

During its bloody rule of Cambodia from 1975 to

1979, Pol Pot’s Khmer Rouge murdered between

1 and 2 million people. To save ammunition, they

used hammers and axe handles to break the

skulls. From the skull that this girl in Phnom

Penh, Cambodia, is playing with, you can see the

victim’s death blow.

State-Sponsored Terrorism

• Colonel Muammar Gadhafi of Libya viewed terrorism as a legitimate extension of the state.

Criminal Terrorism

• Russian Mafias

• Narcoterrorism– Drug dealing finances the revolution

Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDS)

• Nuclear Terrorism – Dirty bombs

• Biological Terrorism

As in this scene in Connecticut, to prepare for what many fear will

come, Homeland Security is holding mock terrorist drills in major

cities across the nation.

LO 14.5

Terrorists attempting to overthrow the government because their grievances were ignored are _________ terrorists.

A: criminal

B: revolutionary

C: state-sponsored

D: repressive

Terrorists attempting to overthrow the government because their grievances were ignored are _________ terrorists.

A: criminal

B: revolutionary

C: state-sponsored

D: repressive

Biological weapons are not a serious threat because of vaccinations.

A: True

B: False

Biological weapons are not a serious threat because of vaccinations.

A: True

B: False

14.6 – Social Policy

• Terrorism • Nuclear Threats as a Path to Peace • Potential Policies for Peace • Survival as a Mutual Benefit

Terrorism

• The Overarching Principle• Policies • Preemptive Strikes• Targeted Killings

Explore: War and Terrorism: The War on Terror and Those Who Fight It

http://www.socialexplorer.com/SpiceMap/?v=2c27d6c704ba475f

Nuclear Threats as a Path to Peace

• A MAD Way to Peace – Mutual assured destruction

• A New Precarious Balance of Power– New World Order

Potential Policies for Peace

• Disarmament• Interlocking Networks • International Law

Survival as a Mutual Benefit

• What will prevent annihilation is probably the desire to survive.

LO 14.6

Perhaps the way to world peace is relying on the desire for _________.

A: destruction

B: wealth

C: collaboration

D: survival

Perhaps the way to world peace is relying on the desire for _________.

A: destruction

B: wealth

C: collaboration

D: survival

The “peace” treaty between the U.S. and Russia is based on an understanding of destruction.

A: True

B: False

The “peace” treaty between the U.S. and Russia is based on an understanding of destruction.

A: True

B: False

14.7 – The Future of the Problem

• Arms Sales, War, and Terrorism • Terrorism

Arms Sales, War, and Terrorism

• War and Terrorism Fueled by Profits• Why Poor Nations Spend So Much on

Weapons

Terrorism

• Revolutionary Terrorism– Obtain more destructive weapons

• Repressive Terrorism– Demands for democracy will be met with

resistance from totalitarian leaders• State-sponsored Terrorism

– Decrease from investigative techniques• Russia

– People have rights and freedoms

Want to buy a tank? Missles? War planes? You can—if you are a member of some country’s elite that

the United States wants to keep in power. This photo of a U.S. MIA25 SEP Abrams battle tank for sale

was taken in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates.

It is likely that one of the challenges of the “muddle-through” society will

be preventing, and in some instances adjusting to terroristic attacks,

such as the bombings at the Boston

Marathon in 2013.

LO 14.7

Poor nations spend a lot on weapons due to fear of neighboring territories and an unstable _________.

A: citizenship

B: power elite

C: culture

D: view of the world

Poor nations spend a lot on weapons due to fear of neighboring territories and an unstable _________.

A: citizenship

B: power elite

C: culture

D: view of the world

Arms sales are likely to remain because they are very profitable.

A: True

B: False

Arms sales are likely to remain because they are very profitable.

A: True

B: False

Question for Discussion

Explain the military-industrial complex and how it affects war in the U.S.