Is war Inevitable?

What is war? Many people think of it as fighting for something and others think of it as a struggle. War is defined in the Oxford English Dictionary as a quarrel usually between nations conducted by force. In my opinion war is never going to end, it is inevitable. If war comes to an end it will be from failure of human wisdom. As far as we know, war has always been part of our human history, and it probably occurred from time to time, in one form or another, even throughout our prehistory, that is, for as far back as humans existed. Why do people have war? My answer is so that they can accomplish political objectives, such as to move borders or move them back to acquire land or get it back, to acquire resources or get them back. Also they may join a war to protect an ally. I feel countries get involved in war for benefit for themselves. The reason why wars start is the exact same thing: where countries want other countries land, or resources. Or perhaps another country's government wronged them. There are also wars of religion. Then there are civil wars, usually occurring because the people are not happy with the government (not always though). Then there are people like Hitler, who have personal reasons. Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party, also called the Nazi Party. He was the ruler of Germany from 1933

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: Politics
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Nationalism is inherently expansionist and destructive - discuss

“Nationalism is inherently expansionist and destructive” – discuss Nationalism has often been perceived as an expansionist and destructive ideology due to its somewhat self-centred nature. Unlike Socialism or Liberalism, which focus on what’s best for people generally (be it collectivism and co-operation or equality of opportunity and freedom), nationalism takes a more self-focused approach. The emphasis is on the situation of the nation itself as opposed to all of humankind. However the idea that this is expansionist and destructive is perception, the question of whether this is so in reality can only be judged by considering the forms of nationalism that have been evident in history. Whether in actuality nationalism is a force that encourages nations to behave in an expansionist and destructive manner (both towards other nations and to minorities within the nation itself) is largely dependent on the form of nationalism in question. The central themes of nationalism – belief in the nation, organic community, self-determination and identity – do not in themselves give a presentation of an expansionist and destructive ideology, merely one concerned with pride and preservation. However nationalism is an ideology that can be adapted to fit with various ways of thinking, from liberal to fascist. Within some varieties of nationalism, such as expansionist nationalism,

  • Word count: 1890
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: Politics
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The Rise Of Hitler

The Rise Of Hitler One of the main reasons why people voted for Hitler as a political leader was that he was a very good public speaker , after he returned to Munich, the Bavarian military command appointed him an instructor in a program for the political indoctrination of the troops. Hitler quickly found at that this party offered him a better chance for his new goal: political power. In April 1920 he left the army to devote all his time to his position as chief propagandist for the party. He designed a new system of political propaganda, one that showed mass emotionalism and lots of excitement. Hitler was the leader of the German people, and the party soon became a factor in Bavarian politics, mainly attracting the people of the middle classes. In July 1921 he became the chairman of the party with all powers. His goal was to defeat the government, but he had to compete with other Bavarian groups and with his friend a Bavarian officer.He advocated the position of chief of the military and wanted to incorporate the party's paramilitary units, called the SA, or Storm Troopers (Sturmabteilung) into his secret army, while Hitler insisted on the primacy of politics. When the French occupied the Ruhr in January 1923, German nationalist feelings ran high, and military authorities prepared for mobilization. The views of Roehm and the other right-wingers now seemed to be

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: Politics
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What is Utilitarianism?

Utilitarianism Vanessa Harris .a) What is Utilitarianism? The dictionary definition of Utilitarianism is: 'The doctrine that the greatest happiness of the greatest number should be the guiding principal of conduct.' When making a moral decision, we should look at the outcome of an action. Whatever brings the greatest happiness to the most people is the morally 'right' decision. It is a consequentialist principal where the majority rules. It is also relative as each situation is looked at differently and will have a different outcome. Utilitarianism is known as the theory of utility. The meaning of utility is usefulness. Each action is judged by its usefulness in bringing about desired consequences. The word utility was first used to describe a group of social reformers. They attempted to make laws and practices of use-useful to people. It was Scottish Philosopher David Hume (1711-76) who introduced utility into ethics. However, he was not viewed as a Utilitarian. The well known phrase associated with Utilitarianism was produced by Francis Hutcheson. He said: "The nation is best which produces the greatest happiness for the greatest numbers, and that worst which in like manner occasions misery." This is the basis of Utilitarianism yet, like Hume, Hutcheson was also not regarded as a Utilitarian. One of the main exponents of Utilitarianism is Jeremy Bentham. He was

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  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: Politics
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To what extent is there continuity between traditional conservatism and the New Right?

Fatima Rahim Miss Worth To what extent is there continuity between traditional conservatism and the New Right? Traditional conservatisms key features are its pragmatic nature and it being non-ideological, this was mainly by Edmund Burke. This strand is cautious and modest , it doe accept change but only in order if necessary- “change in order to conserve”, this too is seen in the paternalistic One Nation strand of traditional conservatism, whose founding father was Disraeli and later MacMillan.The New Right came about after the economic crisis of the 1970’s, and was endorsed by Thatcher and Reagan, this new strand of conservatism stemmed from some of the ideas of the great economic thinker Hayek. The New right incorporates ideas of both Neo Liberals and Neo Conservatives, the new right can be seen as progressive, amending flaws seen in traditional conservatism. The core themes of conservatism are human nature, the state, society and the economy; and although there are some similarities…….. The traditional conservative view of the individual stresses human imperfection. In particular, human individuals are regarded as psychologically limited creatures that seek security that can be found through for example, tradition or authority. They are also intellectually limited, in that they are

  • Word count: 999
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: Politics
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To what extent has socialism been defined by its opposition to capitalism?

Wednesday 17th October 2007 Past Question: June 2004 To what extent has socialism been defined by its opposition to capitalism? [60 marks] Initially the question posed could be answered by defining socialist, as it is derived from the Latin term 'sociare,' meaning to combine or to share. This indicates, being as capitalism is about private ownership that infact the two contrast. Socialism had its basis in the 19th century and arose as a reaction against economic conditions created in Europe, by the growth in economic capitalism. It came to represent the impoverish workers who suffered due to early industrialization at the hands of what socialists saw to be the bourgeoisie, and those who profited disproportionately from the working class. Policies in the early 19th century meant that factory owners had the prerogative to determine wage levels and factory conditions, which were often poor to maximise profits. It was therefore seen as revolutionary when Utopian Socialists, such as Robert Owen emerged, creating utopian communities where the emphasis was on sharing the accumulated wealth and getting rid of the exploitation that capitalists were advocating. Hence, groups like the Co-operative Society emerged. In contrast however, the likes of Marx and Engels believed the only way to overthrow the capitalist regime was through a revolution, which if necessary would be

  • Word count: 807
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: Politics
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What is Liberalism?

Ideology Ideology is the name given to any comprehensive and mutually consistent set of ideas by which a social group makes sense of the world. 1When ideology is employed in the use of government it effects not only those who already conform to the ideology but those citizens who do not. In my view as long as ideology exists there can never be a consensus among all as to how people should live and view the world. Liberalism, Conservatism and Socialism are notable examples of the major ideologies in this world that are employed by those who possess power. Due to the way the political process works ideology can effect many areas of life, social equality is one such area, which falls victim to the changing perspectives and ideologies of those who possess power. Each ideology would provide a differing perspective on social inequality and each would employ a separate way of dealing which the problem. I will attempt to outline the differing views and compare and contrast them against each other. Liberalism is in general, the belief that it is the aim of politics to preserve individual rights and to maximise freedom of choice2. Liberalism has come to be the dominant ideology of the industrialised West, its main themes are: The individual, Freedom, Reason, Justice and Toleration. For liberals the belief of the primacy of the individual is the characteristic theme and has had

  • Word count: 1567
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: Politics
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