Modern Warfare

Question 1

What are the causes of war?

Answer 1

To defend an ally
A defensive response to an attack
To defend freedom, religion or lifestyle
To gain freedom from an occupying force
To gain land and resources
To stop injustice
To get rid of a dictator.

Question 2

Effects of War

Answer 2

Physical injuries and mental illness following experiences either in the war or by inhabitants of the attacked country
Nuclear wars can lead to radiation poisoning in the area and for the people
Damages and destroys nature
Loss of jobs and rise in inflation and living costs
Large economic financial cost leading to debt
Buildings and infrastructure are destroyed

Question 3

Two acceptable reasons for war

Answer 3

To defend freedom, religion or lifestyle – this is an acceptable reason for war because it is important to maintain and protect the rights of each individual and the collective community. These have been clearly outlined in the UDHR and to ensure the inhabitants of a country can fully experience these rights, a government must stand against such an attack.

A defensive response to an attack – this is an acceptable reason for war because it is the responsibility and duty of a government to protect its people from any potential harm from another invading country.

Question 4

What is the just war theory

Answer 4

The Just War Theory was developed by St Thomas Aquinas. The Just War Theory is a mainly Christian theory, which acknowledges that war should be avoided when possible while at the same time attempting to guide states when faced with conflict. The Just War Theory sets out conditions by which to judge whether a war should be fought. It has a list of criteria that must be met for a war to be considered ‘just’.

Question 5

Criteria for a just war

Answer 5

1. War must be the LAST RESPORT. All other attempts to settle the problem should be tried, eg: negotiation, or withdrawal of financial aid.
2. War must be LAWFULLY DECLARED by a GOVERNMENT with the AUTHORITY to declare war. ‘Ordinary’ people or even terrorists cannot declare a
   Just War.
3. There must be a CAUSE and PROPER INTENTION for the war, such as keeping peace of defending the innocent.
4. There must be a REASONABLE CHANCE of SUCCESS.
5. The GOOD GAINED by WINNING the war must be GREATER than the EVIL caused by fighting it.
6. There must be PROPORTIONALITY. Only APPROPRIATE FORCE should be used. EG: if someone throws a stone at you, killing their whole family is not just.
7. INNOCENT CIVILIANS should not be killed.
8. PEACE must be RESTORED at the end.

Question 6

How does the just war theory set guidelines for armed conflict

Answer 6

The purpose of the Just War theory is to guide a state when faced with potential threat and conflict situations; it is to help a country decide if it should go to war or not.
St Thomas Aquinas suggested that there were conditions that had to be met before a war could be declared ‘just’ and it was acceptable to fight in such a war.
These guidelines are as follows: 1. The war must be declared by a legal authority.
2. The cause of the war must be just. 3. The war must be a last resort. 4. The principle of proportionality must be observed. 5. The war must have a reasonable chance of success. 6. Only sufficient force must be used.

Question 7

Problems with just war theory

Answer 7

War has traditionally been understood as a conflict between different powers. In the modern world there are examples of conflict which do not fit that definition. These new kinds of war, mean it can be difficult to apply the Just War Theory. List examples of these modern conflicts below:

 Conflicts between minority groups which feel wronged by the
government of people they live among.
 Conflicts which intend to remove a dictator or a government and
replace it with a democracy.
 Conflicts with insurgency groups that are not the legitimate army of a
country.
 The scale of the weapons, creating difficulty in proportionality and in
keeping civilians out of war.

Question 8

The just war Theory is no longer relevant. Agree?

Answer 8

 The original conditions for a Just War were suggested by Thomas Aquinas in the 13th century, so it could be argued they are outdated.
 Modern war has become very complicated, and it is too simplistic to say that there must be just cause and proper intention.
 No-one can know at the outset of a war if there will be a reasonable chance of success, or whether the good gained by winning the war will be greater than the evil caused by fighting it.
 Some of the methods often used in modern wars, such as WMDs, could never be justified by the Just War theory; it is impossible to ensure proportionality in a modern war.
 Sometimes action has to be taken swiftly and there is not the time to try a lot of peaceful methods first, leaving war as a last resort.

Question 9

The just war theory is no longer relevant. Disagree?

Answer 9

 The idea that taking human life is wrong, but that countries have a duty to protect their citizens, still applies today.
 Many people still believe that it is right to go to war if the cause is just.
 It is still relevant today that war should be declared by a government, not a terrorist or a dictator.
 War should always be a last resort, with negotiations and sanctions being tried first.
 The conditions that innocent civilians must not be targeted, and peace should be restored at the end are still relevant today.

Question 10

What are weapons of mass destruction?

Answer 10

Weapons of mass destruction are weapons that are capable of killing a lot of people at one time.

Question 11

What are nuclear weapons?

Answer 11

these weapons cause immediate destruction of all life and structures within their
range. The radioactive fallout has long-term effects. They are also known as atomic bombs.

Question 12

What is biological warfare?

Answer 12

this weaponry uses live disease-causing bacterium or viruses to bring about the death or serious illness of people. These are also known as germ warfare. EG: anthrax

Question 13

What is chemical warfare?

Answer 13

this weaponry uses non-living toxins to cause death, incapacity or illness in people. EG: nerve agents, mustard gas

Question 14

What are biological weapons?

Answer 14

these weapons use conventional explosives to create bombs that disperse radioactive material. As well as killing people, they make the impact area useless due to contamination. These are also known as dirty bombs.

Question 15

Name 3 types of chemical weapons

Answer 15

Nerve gas, mustard gas, tear gas.

Question 16

What are the effects of chemical weapons?

Answer 16

Chemical weapons can cause choking, violent skin irritation and blistering, attacks on the nervous system, psychological reactions and destruction to the environment.

Question 17

Why would a country want to use chemical weapons

Answer 17

They have the ability to cause mass casualties or damage to an enemy with only limited risk to the country using the chemicals. These weapons can be used to target individuals.

Question 18

How do biological weapons function?

Answer 18

These weapons contain viruses or bacteria that can cause diseases capable of causing sickness or death in humans, or animals, or destroying crops, or contaminating water supplies.

Question 19

Why would a country want to use biological weapons?

Answer 19

These weapons are extremely dangerous. These weapons can be used to target individuals such as carrying out political assassinations. They can be used to infect livestock or agricultural produce to cause a shortage in food and economic loss. These weapons can create environmental catastrophes and widespread illness.

Question 20

What are the short term effects of nuclear weapons

Answer 20

Destroy large areas, produce radiation, releases an intense heat causing fires and serious burns to humans and animals. It causes radiation poisoning causing sickness and organ damage and can be fatal for those closest to the bomb.

Question 21

What are the long term effects of nuclear weapons

Answer 21

Radioactive material produced by the explosion is blown into the atmosphere then falls back to earth over a period of time. Incidences of leukaemia, thyroid, breast and lung cancers increases significantly. Pregnant women suffer higher rates of miscarriage and babies exposed in the womb are more likely to have impaired growth and intellectual disabilities.

Question 22

Why would a country want to use nuclear weapons?

Answer 22

To deter other countries from attacking them. Nuclear weapons cause mass loss of life immediately
and in the weeks and months to follow and create chaos in the fallout for infrastructure and the
environment.

Question 23

What is nuclear deterrence?

Answer 23

Nuclear deterrence is the military doctrine that an enemy will be deterred (put off) from using nuclear weapons if they could be destroyed as a consequence. Thus, the aim of nuclear deterrence is to prevent war. This is the reason almost every country gives for maintaining and developing nuclear weapons. The idea is that if a country has nuclear weapons, then they are unlikely to be attacked for fear of retaliation or Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD) (they will also be destroyed as a result of attacking another country with their nuclear weapons).

Question 24

The nuclear deterrence debate (arguments for)

Answer 24

 Nuclear weapons are a deterrent.
 People feel safer if their country has nuclear
weapons.
 It is immoral for a country not to protect their
citizens by whatever means possible.
 There has been no use of nuclear weapons
since 1945.
 If a country can afford it they should protect
their citizens by having nuclear weapons.

Question 25

The unclear deterrence debate (arguments against)

Answer 25

 Nuclear weapons are an unreliable way for a state to protect itself. EG: Britain’s nuclear weapons did not stop Argentina from seizing the Falkland Islands in 1982.
 Nuclear weapons lead people to living in fear. The Cold War was a time of heightened tension. It was not a peaceful time.
 Nuclear weapons are immoral. No religion supports their existence.
 Proliferation means there is more chance nuclear weapons will be used.
 Nuclear weapons cost too much money. Money could be spent on healthcare and education instead.

Question 26

Nuclear disarmament

Answer 26

During the 1960s and 1970s attempts were made to reduce the number of weapons held by superpowers and prevent nuclear proliferation (weapons spreading to other countries and becoming more numerous).

Question 27

1. In 1968, how many countries signed up to the Non-Proliferation Treaty?

Answer 27

187 countries.

Question 28

2. What 5 nuclear powers were among the countries signing the treaty?

Answer 28

The USA, the USSR, China, France and the UK

Question 29

3. What was the aim of the Non-Proliferation Treaty?

Answer 29

The aim of the treaty was to prevent the spread of nuclear weapon technology and to encourage peaceful nuclear co-operation.

Question 30

4. What were the nuclear-weapon states allowed to do?

Answer 30

They were allowed to keep their weapons but not to give them to any other states.

Question 31

5. What were the non-nuclear-weapon states allowed to develop?

Answer 31

They were allowed to develop nuclear technology, but this was only for peaceful purposes.

Question 32

6. What did the treaty ask the nuclear states to do?

Answer 32

It asked the nuclear states to begin disarmament of nuclear weapons.

Question 33

7. In 2009, steps were taken to revive the treaty. What caused this revival?

Answer 33

Since 1968, other countries have developed nuclear weapons, including Israel, India and Pakistan.

Question 34

8. What goals did the UN Security Council aim to strengthen?

Answer 34

They aimed to strengthen the disarmament of countries currently in possession of nuclear weapons, non- proliferation to countries not yet in possession, and peaceful use of nuclear energy for all.

Question 35

9. In what year were these steps finally agreed?

Answer 35

These steps were finally agreed in May 2010.

Question 36

The church teachings on nuclear deterrence - the Catholic Church.

Answer 36

‘The chief obstacle to the elimination of nuclear arms is continued adherence to the doctrine of nuclear deterrence. With the end of the Cold War, the time for the acceptance of this doctrine is long passed. The Holy See does not countenance the continuation of nuclear deterrence, since it is evident it is driving the development of ever newer nuclear arms …’

Question 37

The church teachings on nuclear deterrence - Anglican Church

Answer 37

‘Nuclear abolition is the democratic wish of the world’s people and has been our goal almost since the dawn of the atomic age. Together, we have the power to decide whether the nuclear era ends in a bang or worldwide celebration.’

Question 38

The church teachings on nuclear deterrence - baptist church

Answer 38

‘We call on all nations to abolish their nuclear
weapons and to dispose of such weapons in a manner that is not harmful to either the physical or political environment.’

Question 39

The church teachings on nuclear deterrence - Methodist church

Answer 39

We say a clear and unconditional NO to nuclear war and to any use of nuclear weapons. We conclude that nuclear deterrence is a position that cannot receive the church’s blessing.’

Question 40

The church teachings in nuclear deterrence - Catholic Church

Answer 40

‘The ‘peace of a sort’ promised by nuclear deterrence has led to enormous amounts of money being allocated for modernisation of nuclear weapons to the detriment of human development while ignoring the underlying causes of war.’

Question 41

‘A country should only go to war when there is no other choice.’ Agree?

Answer 41

 War should always be a last resort, with negotiations and sanctions being tried first.
 War is wrong as it goes against teachings in
the Bible such as ‘Do not kill” Jesus also taught his followers not to take revenge so we should not be too quick to take up arms and fight.
 The Just War theory associated with St Thomas Aquinas is still very influential for Christians today. It allows war as a last resort.
 Modern weapons of mass destruction are so dangerous, they should only be considered as
The ‘peace of a sort’ promised by nuclear deterrence has led to enormous amounts of money being allocated for modernisation of nuclear weapons to the detriment of human development while ignoring the underlying causes of war.’

Question 42

The human cost of war

Answer 42

In any war there are direct and indirect victims. The number of people killed and injured, the destruction of towns, villages and countryside and the number of people whose lives have been shattered, can leave a country completely devastated.

Question 43

The main casualties of war

Answer 43

 Military personnel
 Civilians
 Child soldiers
 Asylum seekers and refugees
 Psychological effects

Question 44

Innocent civilians

Answer 44

Civilians are not supposed to be targeted in war and are protected by international humanitarian law. They should be shielded from all forms of violence and degrading treatment. Nevertheless, civilians often die in large numbers in wars. During the past 60 years, the main victims of war have been civilians. Civilians are caught in the crossfire or killed in bombings simply by being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Many people die through illness due to lack of clean water of food. Others become traumatised because of the atrocities they have witnessed and
may suffer from long term mental illness.

Question 45

Military personnel

Answer 45

Military personnel lose their lives and are injured during war. A high percentage also die after returning home because of drug overdoses or suicide.
The USA lost over 6800 American service members and over 6900 contractors in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. A high percentage of young veterans also die after returning home, many because of drug overdoses or suicide. Many UK service members were also killed because of roadside bombs or during clashes with insurgents while on patrol. Hundreds of journalists and
their staff were also killed while covering news about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Question 46

Child soldiers

Answer 46

The UN defines child soldiers as ‘children associated with armed forces and groups’.
 International law prohibits young people under the age of 18 taking part in armed conflict, and the use of children under the age of 15 is considered a war crime.
 Throughout the world, tens of thousands of children – some as young as 9 or 10 years old – are given weapons and forced to fight for government armed forces or paramilitaries.
 Children are often used because they are easily manipulated and controlled with violence, alcohol, and drugs. Boys and girls are forced to fight. or enticed into the military with the promise of protection. They may even be forced to kill their family which is used to exert control saying they can never return home.
 Not all children have armed roles in these groups, so referring to them as ‘child soldiers’ isn’t always accurate as they may be used in any capacity – including as spies, messengers, porters, servants or for sexual purposes.
 Since 1998, over 100,000 soldiers have been returned to their families and communities by rehabilitation programmes designed to help them cope with the trauma that they have experienced in war, providing them with education, therapy and medical help, eg: Child Soldiers International.

Question 47

What is an asylum seeker?

Answer 47

someone who has fled their country to another country and have presented themselves to the authorities and applied for asylum. They can remain in the country until their case has been decided.

Question 48

What is a refugee?

Answer 48

an asylum seeker who has proved to the authorities that it is too dangerous for them to return home. They are allowed to remain in this country legally.

Question 49

Asylum seekers and refugee?

Answer 49

War forces thousands of people to leave their homes and often their countries. An asylum seeker or refugee is someone who is forced to flee their country because of conflict, persecution or a natural disaster.
 Some are forced to flee with no warning, and many have experienced significant trauma, eg: witnessing the death of a family member.
 Displaced people often end up in refugee camps, either in their own country or a neighbouring country. Conditions in camps are often poor and unsafe. Children and women are particularly at risk
of exploitation and sexual assault.
 Refugees are protected by international humanitarian law when they are in a state involved in an armed conflict. They must not be returned to.

Question 50

Phycological effects of war.

Answer 50

War can scar the people involved in many ways. Soldiers who have witnessed terrible atrocities (or committed them) may suffer trauma as a result. Civilians whose daily
lives have been shattered suffer in a similar way.

Question 51

Describe how children can be affected by war?

Answer 51

Point 1:
Firstly, children could be part of an innocent group of civilians who are killed during an attack on their city. This attack might cause mass loss of life and result in many injuries, some of which will be children.
Point 2:
Children who live in war zones will witness the atrocities of war on a daily basis. They will see their loved ones get killed and be injured. They will watch as their homes are destroyed and the places, they once played with friends become distant memories as these places are also destroyed in attacks. Witnessing such atrocities will cause trauma for the child in the years to come and potentially the rest of their life.
Point 3:
Lastly, in some countries, children may be taken to be soldiers in an insurgent group. In these groups they are forced to kill people, even their own families as a display of their loyalty to the group. They are manipulated and controlled throughout childhood and teenage years. Many of these children will never get to return home or experience a ‘normal’ life again.

Question 52

Economic cost of war.

Answer 52

War and conflict place an enormous strain on the economy and resources. War costs money for soldiers, weapons, vehicles, and logistics. Some people argue that the money spent on these costs should be spent at home instead, improving vital services such as healthcare.
In the countries where the conflict is taking place there is an enormous strain on the economy and resources. Often infrastructure collapses and there is no longer such a thing as normal life.
A country’s economy can be affected in the following ways:

 Rise in inflation
 Increase in national debt
 Unemployment
 Decline in tourism
 The environment

Question 53

Rise of inflation (cost of war)

Answer 53

Financial uncertainty in times of war causes a drop in the value of savings and investments.
Prices are pushed up, which leads to reduction in living standards. EG: in Syria, the price of rice rose by 723% between March 2011 and November 2015.

Question 54

Increase in national debt (cost of war)

Answer 54

Governments at war often borrow more money than they would at times of peace to finance the cost of the military. This leads to a rise in public sector debt. EG: in the UK, national debt rose sharply in the aftermath of the two world wars.
Even in peace, governments spend huge sums of money maintaining their military and this may be at the expense of other aspects of the economy, such as healthcare and education.
War destroys homes, crops, power supplies, industry schools and hospitals. All of these vital services have to be replaced once the war is over. This uses up vast amounts of money and resources that poor countries cannot afford.

Question 55

Unemployment (cost of war)

Answer 55

Destruction of towns, loss of infrastructure and buildings after war has the knock- on effect of many companies going out of business.
Places of work are often destroyed, leaving people with no jobs to go to. Small businesses may struggle to survive if they are unable to access stock via damaged roads.
War may also result in the death of significant numbers of the working population and this can impact on the economy of a country after the war is over.

Question 56

Decline in tourism (cost of war)

Answer 56

War can have a huge economic impact on some countries when tourism is affected.
Egypt and many Middle Eastern countries are no longer popular tourist destinations due to war and conflict. This has had a disastrous effect on the economy of some areas which relied very heavily on the income that came from tourism.

Question 57

The envoirnment (cost of war)

Answer 57

The weapons used in war can lead to the pollution of air, water and soil. This is particularly so when chemical, biological or nuclear weapons are used.
Sometimes there is the deliberate destruction of a natural resource, such as the burning of oil wells. This can have a disastrous effect on the environment.

Question 58

War is a waste of money and resources. Yes?

Answer 58

 Wars cause millions of innocent lives to be lost and human suffering on a huge scale and so cannot be justified.
 There is also damage to buildings and resources, loss of essential services and damage to the environment.
 More public money could be spent on education and healthcare than supporting the military and buying weapons.

Question 59

War is a waste of time and resources. No?

Answer 59

 There are always examples in the news of violent and aggressive attacks by one country on another; the only way to stop this is by armed conflict.
 Pacifist methods – peaceful demonstrations, strikes, sanctions, etc. – are not immediately effective and so wars are needed.
 Sometimes dictators need to be challenged, declaring war has been shown to be effective against Hitler or Saddam Hussein, for example.

Question 60

What is pacifism?

Answer 60

Pacifism is the belief that war, and violence are wrong and cannot be justified. Pacifists believe that conflicts should be settled by peaceful means. There are different levels of pacifism:

Question 61

Absolute Pacifism

Answer 61

An absolute pacifist believes that it is never right to take part in war, even in self-defence. Human life is so precious that nothing can justify deliberately killing a person.

Question 62

Conditional Pacifism

Answer 62

A conditional pacifist is against the idea of war in general but accepts that sometimes there may be extreme circumstances when war is better than the alternative.

Question 63

Selective Pacifism

Answer 63

A selective pacifist opposes only a certain type of war, such as one that involves weapons of mass destruction, for example, nuclear weapons.