Necessary Evil: The Importance of Destruction and Occupation in War
Abstract
This study examines the relationship between destruction in war, occupation after war, and the establishment of a better state of peace. In order to better understand this relationship, case studies of wars in which high levels of destruction occurred in the defeated state will be examined. The first is the American Civil War, and more specifically the activities of General William T. Sherman and his army in their famous March to the Sea through Georgia. The defeat of the Confederacy demonstrates the importance of destruction during the war, but the lack of resources dedicated to the economic, political, and socially reconstruction created future issues for the country. Subsequently, the monograph examines Japan during and after World War II. This case highlights the difficulties in how different cultures work together after a conflict to create stability when the victor is willing to put forth resources and utilize the opportunities created by defeat. Both of these cases represent highly mobilized societies that supported war efforts until the end of the conflict. Eventually both the American South and Japan made fundamental changes in their societies, but they did so in different ways. Such case studies illustrate extreme examples in unconditional surrender, the likes of which are rarely seen in more recent conflicts. Therefore, this paper also looks briefly at more recent examples and what relationship, if any, physical destruction has with peace building in conflicts such as Iraq, Bosnia, Kosovo, and Iraq. Finally, it offers an assessment regarding how post-conflict society transitions away from pre-war behaviors, the ones that ultimately led to the conflict, towards post-war behaviors focused on stability and peace.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 2010
- Accession Number
- AD1019440
Entities
People
- Beth L. Makros
Organizations
- Air University