By Shamwil Ibrahim (Justice)
War has always been one of the saddest realities of our world. No matter how much we talk about peace, it keeps returning like a shadow that follows mankind. From the world wars to modern conflicts in places like Ukraine and Gaza, war continues to shape the history of humanity.
To understand why countries go to war is to understand how fear, pride, and power can sometimes destroy reason.
1.The Desire for Power:
Many wars begin because one country wants to control another. The thirst for power has always lived inside the hearts of men.
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Hitler once dreamed of ruling the world; Russia seeks control in its region; even small nations fight over influence. Power can be beautiful when used for peace, but dangerous when mixed with greed.
Sometimes leaders forget that to rule people is not the same as to own them.
2.The Battle for Resources:
Money and natural wealth are another strong reason.
Countries fight over oil, land, water, and trade routes. The Iraq War, for example, had deep economic motives.
Even in Africa, some wars begin because of minerals and gold.
When resources become more valuable than human life, war becomes the marketplace of destruction.
3.Fear and Insecurity:
Not all wars come from greed some come from fear.
A nation may build weapons to protect itself, but others may see that as a threat.
This is what scholars call the security dilemma when fear itself becomes the cause of war.
During the Cold War, the USA and the Soviet Union didn’t fight directly, but they both lived in constant fear of each other.
Sometimes, people fight not because they hate each other, but because they are afraid of being weak.
4.Ideology and Belief:
Another reason is ideology the clash of beliefs.
When nations disagree on what is right or wrong, or how people should live, conflict easily rises.
The Cold War was not only about weapons, but also about ideas: capitalism versus communism.
Even today, some wars are fueled by religion, politics, and cultural pride.
5.Pride and National Honor:
Pride can be as dangerous as a bomb.
When a country feels insulted or humiliated, its leaders may go to war just to prove strength.
History shows that many wars started not because of real threats, but because of wounded egos.
It is sad how the need to look powerful can destroy real peace.
6. Justice and Self-Defense:
Still, not all wars are evil.
Some are fought to protect the weak, to resist invasion, or to stop oppression.
The Allied Powers in World War II, for example, fought against Hitler’s cruelty to save humanity.
But even when the reason is right, war always leaves pain behind.
Finally, countries go to war for many reasons power, money, fear, belief, pride, and sometimes justice.
But no matter the reason, war always means loss: of homes, of lives, and of peace.
The real strength of a nation is not in its army, but in its wisdom.
True leaders win peace without fighting, and true power is the courage to forgive.
Peace will never be achieved by those who love to conquer
it will be achieved by those who love to understand.
May Allah grant us peace throughout the entire world, Amin!
Shamwil Ibrahim (Justice) is a student of international studies and law. He can be contacted at ibrahimshamawilu@gmail.com
