The Motive for Fighting - Research Paper Example

The motive for fighting is to gain an advantage, ensuring one's survival. The conflict has always been present in nature. In nature, it is often present between species of different interests seen in the interactions of predator and prey or between individuals competing for food and sustenance.

Humans have, through time, learned abilities and devised tactics to overpower their competitors. Along with human evolutionary success came the birth of different cultures and the establishment of numerous civilizations throughout the planet. Looking back to history, war is not something that occurs due to the innate ability of different societies to amass weapon stockpiles and train military men for battle, nor does it happen due to the evolutionary history of the human species -“that war is the result of cultural and social processes, divorced from any individual or biological ‘function’ or expression of individual psychology” (Tooby & Cosmides 1). War is the last straw drawn when two or more factions can no longer reach compromise with regard to morality, wealth and property, religion, or even race. It is the last solution when all negotiations fail and opposing parties are obliged to concede to the notion that force is required to achieve order and eliminate the existing problem within aspects far beyond the basic need to survive (Tooby & Cosmides 1).

It should be noted that although the Darwinian theory of continued existence does hold water, man as a sentient being has also learned to bargain and deal with the terms of different agreements. History has taught us that although war is inevitable in some cases, humankind will never put it ahead on the negotiating table due to the dire consequences it will bring to both factions (Tooby & Cosmides 1).
The developing equality of women’s rights has become evident through the decades. The women of today can now freely hold positions of power and authority. It is also very noticeable that there has not yet been another war comparable to that World War II. Wide-spread conflict that involves the majority of the nations has not occurred for the past six decades. This brings into question the idea that women in power have reduced the likelihood of war (Tooby & Cosmides 1; Zur 3).

A review of past research done by Ofer Zur revealed that “there is a great complexity to the phenomena of war and more complexity in the differences between attitudes of men and women towards war” (Zur, 3). In his study entitled “Men, Women, and War: Gender Differences in Attitudes towards War”, he exposed the faulty idea of men are drawn to war more than women. The research results showed that men and women will support war just as strongly as men however the grounds on which to support war would be different. Women support the war “when an appeal is made based on empathy for the oppressed and vulnerable human beings” (Zur, 3). Males on the other hand “justify war according to the rational and legal criteria” (Zur, 3). He also stated that the data indicates that men more than women, acknowledge or negate war and aggression and devastation caused by war and accept stereotypical sex roles during wartime.

Based on these results, it can be deduced that women in power will not ultimately change the likelihood of war. Instead, it will lead to a change in perspective and basis for declaring war during conflicts. The more important question that will change will not be “How likely will war occur?” it will be “Why will war occur?”

Emphasizing the idea that women find it hard to justify hostility and damaging acts, will notably change how wars will be fought. Already, this has changed the tactics employed for covertly obtaining information apparent during the Cold War era. For one development of other weapon systems to overpower and conquer the opposition without causing as much damage and carnage will be encouraged. Another change that can be heralded by women on the battlefield will be the cutback of dehumanizing treatments currently employed by a male-dominated war institution.

Conclusion
In conclusion, women having equal rights and being able to take up positions of power and authority does not directly translate to a greater possibility of averting war. Instead, it will consequently alter the rationale for declaring war and possibly fighting and winning the war. Mankind has learned through history that war should never be considered when dealing with national conflicts unless common ground cannot be achieved without the use of force.