The Unlearned Lessons of War: A Cycle of Destruction

Since the end of the cold war, diplomacy, economic sanctions and international institutions have played a leading role in the management and resolution of conflicts. Yet, despite these efforts, war remains and is undergoing significant changes in forms and modalities.

The Unlearned Lessons of War: A Cycle of Destruction

by Irshad Ahmad War has been a persistent and tragic feature of human history, yet humanity seems to have learned little from its devastating consequences. The First World War, the Second World War, the Cold War, the U.S.-Vietnam War, and America’s invasions of Iraq, Libya, and other nations form a comprehensive, and grim, encyclopedia of destruction, suffering, and critical reflection in recent history. For decades, Europe enjoyed a period rela…