The Pain of Progress

Examining Conflict as a Driver of Change

J. A. McCreery

Wars, civil or foreign, have undeniably shaped the course of human history, they mark the shift of eras, the expansion of ideals and the creation of nations. Nevertheless, they all leave a bloodied, visceral stain across our societal consciousness that inevitably begs the question – why is destruction so powerful a proponent of change? Why does society ‘advance’ through war and, if it pushes us forward, is it bitterly worth it in the end?   

‘Advancement’ is a fickle word which must be confronted, it relates to a myriad of factors dictated by one’s stance and, without specification, can easily devolve to the point that one may argue humanity is not actually advancing – a near ubiquitously accepted fact – instead ‘devolving’ in line with the loss of morality, nature, etc. So, in this case, it shall relate to economic, social and technological progression which broadly increases living standards and opportunities for humanity. 

Evidence of this advancement, or at least change, can be seen in three types of conflict: (1) that which is motivated by religious evangelism, (2) civil or anti-colonial rebellion and (3) world war. 

Wars of faith inevitably shape religious outlooks, in turn dictating the beliefs, ethics and attitudes of both those victorious and defeated. The spread of the major world religions; Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Judaism, especially in the pre-enlightenment era, can be in part correlated to war and forceful advocation. For Christianity, the Crusades (1095 – 1291) are a clear example of evangelistic combat. Islam is another prime example, which in the years of Mohammed’s life and the early Caliphate was mainly spread by war. Through the middle age into the early modern era, Islam’s spread was again headed by force and the removal of non-Islamic belief from Muslim-dominate territories continued well into the 20th century. Notably, any populace’s exposure to war is directly correlated with an increase in Religiosity, as found in a Nature: Human Behavior report. The relationship between such conflict and ‘advancement’ is feeble and heavily depends on one’s own religious belief, yet the abundance of change, good or bad, is undeniable; religious wars have shaped not only geographical and demographic makeups but the worldviews of millions of people. 

Civil and anti-colonial wars are a driver of change which can much more readily be linked back to the thought of advancement. Many are characterized by the dissolution of totalitarian control, the inception of democracy or a shift away from archaic societal structures. In line with the rise of nationalist identities and thoughts of self-determination, a host of nations were able to break free of colonial control in the 20th century and assert sovereignty. This marked a clear movement towards freedom, the end of oppression and in many cases, the end of rampant exploitation. Such conflicts include the Indonesian War of Independence, the Algerian War and the Bangladesh Liberation War. Another example of war being equated with social progress is the American civil war of 1861 – 1865, where conflict between the US and the Confederacy eventual led to the abolition of slavery and freedom for over four million African Americans. 

Finally, world war. The immensity of these conflicts is what drives their significance, their reach, their intensity, and their impact dwarf all others. The First World War destroyed empires, created numerous new nations, forced the United States to become a world power and contributed heavily to Soviet communism. However, the most significant impact of the war was the huge advances in technology which irrevocably changed the way that people all around the world travelled, communicated, and fought. Aircraft went from fragile, impractical devices to viable war machines, France only had 140 aircraft when the war began but by the end, it had culminated over 4,500. The war provided a huge jump in aviation technology which created a platform for further development and transformation into modern-day aircraft. Medical advancement is another undeniable benefit, with innovations such as the Thomas Splint, blood transfusions and facial surgery coming into their own throughout the war. The disillusionment which grew from the war also gave rise to modernism, a genre which broke with traditional ways of writing, discarded romantic views of nature, and focused on the interior world of characters. WW2, although a darker affair, also gave rise to increased national independence and technology. Radars, computers, and penicillin grew from the war, key features of modern life and powerful tools for good. Gender equality took a step forward, as economies mobilized for war, alongside the men, millions of women were required to come out of their domestic roles and assist in the war effort. In the US, the war brought full employment and a fairer distribution of income. The need for labour also opened a plethora of new opportunities for African Americans and other minorities whilst broadly raising wages/savings and consolidating union strength.

The reason for such a potent change is essentially that war is an accelerator. 

War creates a pressure chamber, one that is unavoidable, technology must improve, thinking must shift, and new thoughts must be presented less destruction be faced. This pressure further exudes into the home front, challenging academics, artists, and politicians to refine their worldviews and push past previous barriers. Dominant states are further pushed into power as they gain more and more territory, allowing them to amalgamate resources and utilize them in previously unreleased capacities. Ideologies which are censored and ignored are thrust into the limelight. No one can escape it, no one can avoid the waves of violent change. 

Although war presses advancement upon us there is, as there always is with war, a dark side. Cities are destroyed, homes lost, and nations burnt to the ground. People die. There is an obvious corruption of a soldier’s morality at the inevitable murder and confounding atrocities which occur but there is also a decisive economic downturn, the loss of wealth and health is unmistakable. 

Ultimately, war forces humanity to adapt, the sheer Darwinist effect shaping the world into the way it is today, yet it also rips lives, resources and innocence from the world. Is the technology we pride ourselves in, the great levels of freedom we cherish or the ideological, idealistic worldviews we protect worth it? One must come to a personal decision, simply ask yourself if this modern world is truly worth the death of our ancestors.