Epidemics Don't Cause Wars, But They Can End 'Em
Abstract
Epidemics are a recognized threat to national security. It is assumed that an epidemic can spark a war. The causes of war are complex. There is little evidence to support the concept of disease being a direct cause. History suggests that wars cause epidemics. War cause theorists propose numerous social, political, and economic causes for war, without postulating that epidemics lead to war. Epidemics do cause MOOTW. In an era of concern over biological and chemical weapons, naturally occurring diseases remain a serious threat to deployed military forces. Epidemics threaten national security by impacting the economic, political, and social aspects of national power. The AIDS epidemic in Sub-Saharan Africa bears stark witness to the magnitude of this threat. It also offers the opportunity for prospective study of the relationship between epidemics, state failures, and wars. There are roughly 54 million deaths annually worldwide from infectious diseases. Half of these deaths occur in Sub-Saharan Africa. The litany of resurgent and emerging infectious diseases, coupled with the phenomenon of antibiotic resistance, bring to light the magnitude of the threat both to national security and deployed forces.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 2002
- Accession Number
- ADA403988
Entities
People
- Matthew A. Carlberg
Organizations
- Marine Corps University