Why was the 20th century warlike?
Why was the 20th century warlike?

Summary/Abstract: The article describes the occurrence of wars during the centuries of modern times, especially of the 19th and 20th century. Three main findings can be mentioned: first, as to the high numbers of wars, the first half of the 20th century is a continuation of the second half of the 19th century where national power politics dominated government actions of the leading powers. Second, as a result, the numerous so-called peace treaties were concluded in the spirit of forced upon arrangements. Especially the Parisian peace treaties after World War I were means of revenge and not at all pacifying measures. Such “unfinished peace agreements” led the ground for most of the wars thereafter. Not only can World War II be seen as a result of such a diktat but also the warlike rearrangements in the second half of the 20th century. Third, by considering some of Kant’s reflections on peace, the article gives an explanation by way of noncompliance to six conditions which must be fulfilled in order to achieve durable peaceful situations.

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