War

Person A has gathered 100 people to eat outside. And they all collectively agreed that they do not want to eat trash because that is the most disgusting thing you can ever eat. But 100 people including the person A ended up eating the raw garbage. Why?

This is in fact analogous to what happened in human history. If you gather 1000 people today right now, and ask each individual if they want a war, the answer will be an obvious no. Even if some people says yes, he or she, once witness the killing and brutal violence of human beings, would most likely change their minds. But why do we still keep having wars when nobody else want to do it?

Why is there such an discrepancy between individual wills and collective decision?

This, I think, economists can answer.

Let us focus on the decision part.

What is the system that allows the individual wills to be represented in the collective decision? Precisely, what is the political institutional system that allows each individual wills to be reflected in the collective decision?

The answer as it turns out is the liberal democratic system.

The presence of war indicates the absence of decision powers in individuals, which conversely means the concentration of powers in few individuals. Thus, wars would not usually occur if there is individual decision power, which conversely indicates the absence of concentration of powers (state power).

To resolve war is to disperse the concentration of power. To disperse the power is to bring power to individuals. To bring power to individuals is to set up a liberal democracy. Therefore, to resolve war is to set up a liberal democracy.

This hypothesis is supported by the history and numerous academic studies (which I listed at the end of this essay.) The amount of war and suffering has drastically decreased corresponding to the rise of liberal democracy. Additionally, the economic opportunities have prospered, the mortality rate declined, the life expectancy has skyrocketed, the technology and science have advanced — the benefits are uncountable.

The liberal democracy then as we hypothesized ends the war. And if there is no more war, that tells the end of human history.

As a concluding statement, let me say this: To end the violent human conflict and war is to end the totalitarianism. Very Very simple.

PS: When you happen to be in a war with a country operating under a totalitarian regime, you are not just fighting for the protection of your country, you are actually fighting for the eternal peace upon the earth to conclude the brutal history of human beings and to terminate the sufferings and violence forever. Therefore, such a war is a concluding war against Wars.

Bibliography:

Why Nationa Fail

The End of History and the Last Man