The Art of Manliness Why We Fight
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Jul 31, 2023 Mike Martin, a Senior Visiting Fellow at King's College London and author of "Why We Fight," delves into the underlying drives behind warfare, positing that the quests for status and belonging intrigue us more than traditional justifications. He examines the psychology of conflict, revealing how group identity challenges can escalate violence. By analyzing historical and modern motivations for war, Martin offers insights into conflict prevention and emphasizes healthier expressions of masculinity that channel youthful energies positively.
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Joining the Army for War
- Mike Martin joined the British Army partly due to the allure of war.
- Many soldiers joined, served a tour or two in Afghanistan or Iraq, and then left, fulfilling their desire to fight.
The Allure of Combat
- Combat provides a unique, exhilarating experience, a mental clarity amidst chaos.
- This, combined with years of training and the desire to prove oneself, creates a strong drive towards fighting.
Spreadsheet Approach to War
- Standard explanations for war often focus on quantifiable factors like resources, ideologies, or political fragmentation.
- These "spreadsheet approaches" miss the core individual motivations behind warfare.
