War

Much is said about war, but too little is truly thought through. Judged by the damage it causes, the scale of suffering it inflicts, and the moral guilt it entails, war is the greatest evil on Earth. From this follows that no humane goal can ever justify war.

This is the starting point of Gerard Bodifée’s new book ‘War’ – a burning issue in light of today’s threats of conflict. A war is not an unfortunate natural phenomenon that simply befalls us, but a calamity resulting from deliberate preparations and decisions. Bodifée discusses various historical examples, including the wars of the 20th century, to illustrate how conflicts escalate and rarely lead to lasting peace.

Bodifée emphasises the necessity of non-violent conflict resolution and the development of diplomacy as alternative approaches. He calls for a cultural and societal shift towards more peaceful coexistence and empathy, while simultaneously criticising the ongoing global production of weapons and militarisation.

This book reads as a deeply convincing essay by a committed pacifist.

War as a means of resolving international disputes must ultimately be ruled out as a possibility. Peace requires self-restraint. In this book, Bodifée also presents concrete proposals to help control our instinct for war. He concludes with a powerful plea for disarmament and a world without war – though he acknowledges that this may seem idealistic in light of the complexity of human nature and international politics.