4 ms·

It has only been 70 years without a major war if you redefine war so as to have no meaning.

by foobarqux 12y ago

mikeash 12y ago
What would you say are the counterexamples to my statement?
- Natsu 12y ago
  Your statement is a bit unclear, but any of these could be considered a 'major' war given their place on the casualty list at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_wars_by_death_toll http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_wars_by_death_toll I excerpted the top few items that extend in whole or in part past the cutoff date of 1945 that they chose. 7,500,000 – Chinese Civil War (1927–1949)[11] 2,500,000–5,400,000 – Second Congo War/Great War of Africa (1998–2003)[17][18][19][20] 800,000–3,800,000[24] – Vietnam War/Second Indochina War (1955–1975)[25][26] 1,000,000 – Iran–Iraq War/First Persian Gulf War (1980–1988)[28] 1,000,000 Biafra War (1967-1970) 957,865–1,622,865 – Soviet war in Afghanistan (1979–1989)[30][31][32] 400,000 – Civil war in Afghanistan (1989–92), Civil war in Afghanistan (1992–96) and Civil war in Afghanistan (1996–2001) (1989–2001)[37] 350,000–1,500,000 - Algerian War of Independence (1954–1962)[38] 300,000–3,000,000[41] – Bangladesh Liberation War (1971) 300,000 – Second Burundian Civil War (1993–2005)[42] 300,000 (TFG)–500,000+ (AFP) – Somali Civil War[43][44][45] [Dates not listed, wiki article puts it in the 80s-90s] 272,000–1,260,009 – War on Terror (2001–present)[46][47][48] 202,354–282,354 – Syrian Civil War (2011–present), see Casualties of the Syrian civil war 200,000 – Colombian conflict (1964–present) (1964–present)[50] [+ many more] I note that a lot of these were 'civil' wars. I understand the book excluding those. I am not clear on the logic behind why. I do not know of a way to define a 'major war' that is not arbitrary.
- foobarqux 12y ago
  Iraq war. A million casualties, another half-million children from sanctions beforehand. Vietnam was even more bloody. The problem isn't really the definition of "major", you can draw the line wherever you want. The problem is that you compare wars to the worst in human history and then use relativism to make other wars insignificant, thereby normalizing state violence. If a serial killer murders 10 people it's absurd to say that is no big deal because others have killed hundreds and, moreover, he killed 20 people the year before so things are on the right track to improving.
  - mikeash 12y ago
    I guess there's no point in trying to continue the discussion, since I'm "normalizing state violence" somehow, and I guess that makes me evil, for considering the facts.

It has only been 70 years without a major war if you redefine war so as to have no meaning.

mikeash 12y ago

What would you say are the counterexamples to my statement?

Natsu 12y ago
Your statement is a bit unclear, but any of these could be considered a 'major' war given their place on the casualty list at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_wars_by_death_toll http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_wars_by_death_toll I excerpted the top few items that extend in whole or in part past the cutoff date of 1945 that they chose. 7,500,000 – Chinese Civil War (1927–1949)[11] 2,500,000–5,400,000 – Second Congo War/Great War of Africa (1998–2003)[17][18][19][20] 800,000–3,800,000[24] – Vietnam War/Second Indochina War (1955–1975)[25][26] 1,000,000 – Iran–Iraq War/First Persian Gulf War (1980–1988)[28] 1,000,000 Biafra War (1967-1970) 957,865–1,622,865 – Soviet war in Afghanistan (1979–1989)[30][31][32] 400,000 – Civil war in Afghanistan (1989–92), Civil war in Afghanistan (1992–96) and Civil war in Afghanistan (1996–2001) (1989–2001)[37] 350,000–1,500,000 - Algerian War of Independence (1954–1962)[38] 300,000–3,000,000[41] – Bangladesh Liberation War (1971) 300,000 – Second Burundian Civil War (1993–2005)[42] 300,000 (TFG)–500,000+ (AFP) – Somali Civil War[43][44][45] [Dates not listed, wiki article puts it in the 80s-90s] 272,000–1,260,009 – War on Terror (2001–present)[46][47][48] 202,354–282,354 – Syrian Civil War (2011–present), see Casualties of the Syrian civil war 200,000 – Colombian conflict (1964–present) (1964–present)[50] [+ many more] I note that a lot of these were 'civil' wars. I understand the book excluding those. I am not clear on the logic behind why. I do not know of a way to define a 'major war' that is not arbitrary.
foobarqux 12y ago
Iraq war. A million casualties, another half-million children from sanctions beforehand. Vietnam was even more bloody. The problem isn't really the definition of "major", you can draw the line wherever you want. The problem is that you compare wars to the worst in human history and then use relativism to make other wars insignificant, thereby normalizing state violence. If a serial killer murders 10 people it's absurd to say that is no big deal because others have killed hundreds and, moreover, he killed 20 people the year before so things are on the right track to improving.
- mikeash 12y ago
  I guess there's no point in trying to continue the discussion, since I'm "normalizing state violence" somehow, and I guess that makes me evil, for considering the facts.