this post was submitted on 13 Dec 2024
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[–] protist@mander.xyz 28 points 6 days ago (2 children)

Yes, every non-capitalist country throughout history has been a beacon of peace lmao

Humans are human. Capitalism is absolutely a driver of some conflict, but conflict is driven not only by economic interests, but also political, ethnic, religious, and other interests.

[–] TheOubliette@lemmy.ml 4 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Capitalism is the primary driver of wars, it determines the basic structure of what is and is not permissible, generates nation-states (these did not always exist, actually), and then creates the conditions by which the national bourgeoisie nation-states push for war in order to become international bourgeoisie (imperialists).

For example, the US keeps the middle east in a regular state of war to prevent them from having independent policies regarding oil. It is concerned about oil because of the petrodollar. It is concerned about the petrodollar because it is th3 primary financial war instrument by which it jeeps other countries sending superprofits its way and otherwise screwing with countries using interest rates. And it does those things because the US is the global seat of capital, it is where the big finance companies are based.

How many wars have there been in the middle east since 2000? How has the US been involved? Do they just do it for the thrill of domination?

[–] protist@mander.xyz 6 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago) (1 children)

Look dude, I'm not here to argue about the US's absolutely fucked foreign policy, and in absolutely no fucking way am I saying any one conflict is not driven in whole or in part by capitalism.

But "Capitalism is the primary driver of wars" is a fundamentally false statement. Just because it's a driver of some or even most modern conflicts does not make it "the primary driver of wars." War is a well documented and studied social phenomenon that predates capitalism by thousands of years, maybe millions. Fucking chimpanzee tribes war with each other. There are thousands upon thousands of wars throughout human history that prove your statement wrong.

[–] TheOubliette@lemmy.ml 4 points 6 days ago (1 children)

I thought it would be implied that I'm speaking about modern times. The economic system is the msin driver in large societies, though. In Europe, prior to capitalism, the primary determinant was feudal interests.

Chimps don't have war. They fight, but is every skirmish a war? Wars come from creating and wielding armies.

[–] Mr_Peartree@lemm.ee 3 points 5 days ago (1 children)

You are obviously wrong because you left out the entire USSR and what happened to Eastern Europe post WW2. Go read a history book!

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[–] monk@lemmy.unboiled.info 24 points 6 days ago

Capitalism is a source of so many problems, yet somehow you singed and missed.

[–] spacemanspiffy@lemmy.world 29 points 6 days ago (1 children)

True in many cases, but there were wars before there was capitalism.

[–] TheOubliette@lemmy.ml 12 points 6 days ago (10 children)

And in those times the causes were things like feudalism.

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[–] Sundial@lemm.ee 14 points 5 days ago (1 children)

This is as reductive as when people say religion is what causes all wars. Humans cause war. Race, religion, nationality, money, power,etc. All of them,and more, have been used as pretexts for war.

[–] dosuser123456@lemmy.sdf.org 4 points 5 days ago

everybody wants to rule the world in some way or another even if it means killing everyone else smh

[–] JohnDClay@sh.itjust.works 15 points 5 days ago (25 children)

I can't figure out exactly why Russia invaded Ukraine, but I don't think it's capitalism. The oligarchs certainly didn't appreciate it very much now. My guess is it was for some misguided desire for legacy?

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[–] ShinkanTrain@lemmy.ml 12 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

It's easy to forget capitalism (and imperialism) aren't the natural state of things and there were wars before it. Of course, that's doesn't mean it doesn't perpetuate and indeed requires wars and exploitation to continue existing.

[–] laserm@lemmy.world 7 points 5 days ago (4 children)

What about wars started by communist nations?

[–] far_university190@feddit.org 1 points 5 days ago

There are none. They all capitalist under the hood.

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[–] PantanoPete@tucson.social 9 points 6 days ago

Oh man I was already beaten by a lemmy.world user saying something stupid

[–] random@lemmy.blahaj.zone 7 points 6 days ago (5 children)

cool, so taiwan, tibet and mongolia don't have to worry at all

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