WAR, ENEMY AND PEACE

By – J Krishna Kumar, Suprathik Mukherjee and

Ved Mahajan
OVERVIEW
War, enemy, and peace are interwoven concepts central to
human history and relationships. War, a conflict between
groups or nations, arises from political, economic, or ideological
disputes, often leading to destruction and suffering. Enemies,
real or perceived, fuel divisions, highlighting humanity's
capacity for animosity. However, peace represents the absence
of war and hostility, emphasizing coexistence, diplomacy, and
reconciliation. While war underscores competition and struggle,
peace symbolizes harmony and mutual respect. Throughout
history, the pursuit of peace has inspired treaties, alliances,
and social movements aimed at resolving conflicts and fostering
unity, reflecting humanity's enduring hope for a better,
cooperative future.
THE IDEA BEHIND THE SURVEY
The idea behind a survey on war, enemy, and peace is to explore
people's perspectives, beliefs, and attitudes toward conflict,
adversaries, and the pursuit of harmony. Such a survey aims to:
• Gauge Public Opinion: Understand how individuals or groups
perceive the causes, consequences, and ethics of war and conflict.
• Identify Factors of Hostility: Examine what drives the perception
of an "enemy" and how it influences relationships and decision-
making.
• Promote Peace: Assess attitudes toward peacebuilding,
reconciliation, and the willingness to resolve disputes through
dialogue.
• Cultural and Historical Insight: Explore how cultural, historical,
or personal experiences shape views on these topics.
TYPES OF WAR
• Conventional War
• Civil War
• Total War
• Guerilla War
• Proxy War
• Religious War (Holy War)
• Ethnic or Tribal War
• Revolutionary War
• Cyber War
• Asymmetric War
• Economic War
• Cold War
PERCEPTION OF AN “ENEMY”
1. Psychological Factors:
Fear and Survival: Perceiving others as enemies often stems from a fear of harm or loss.
Stereotyping: Simplified and often negative beliefs about the "other" can dehumanize and justify
hostility.
2. Cultural and Historical Influences:
Historical Conflicts: Past wars or grievances can frame another group as perpetually adversarial.
Cultural Differences: Divergences in language, religion, or values can foster misunderstanding and
alienation.
3. Political and Media Manipulation:
Leaders or governments may construct enemies to unify their populations, justify policies, or distract
from internal issues.
Propaganda and biased media amplify divisions and reinforce enemy stereotypes.
4. Group Identity and In-Group Bias:
Humans tend to favor their "in-group" and view outsiders with suspicion. This tribal mindset often fuels
hostility.
5. Perception vs. Reality:
An "enemy" may be real or imagined, depending on the context and motivations of those shaping the
narrative.
DIPLOMACY = PEACE ?
1. Diplomacy in Preventing and Resolving War
• Conflict Prevention:
Diplomacy helps defuse tensions through early negotiations and dialogue, addressing disputes before they
escalate into war.
Example: The Cuban Missile Crisis (1962) was resolved through backchannel diplomacy, preventing nuclear war.
• Ceasefires and Peace Treaties:
Diplomacy facilitates agreements that end hostilities and provide frameworks for lasting peace.
Example: The Treaty of Versailles (1919) ended World War I, though its terms later contributed to further conflict.
• Mediating Proxy Wars:
In modern conflicts involving indirect participants, diplomacy can bring warring parties to the table.
2. Diplomacy in Managing Perceptions of the Enemy
• Reducing Hostility:
Diplomatic channels allow adversaries to communicate, humanizing opposing sides and breaking down
stereotypes.
Example: U.S.-China ping-pong diplomacy in the 1970s softened Cold War tensions.
• Confidence-Building Measures:
Initiatives like disarmament talks and trade agreements reduce mistrust and promote cooperation.
• Soft Power and Public Diplomacy:
Engaging with foreign publics, cultural exchanges, and information campaigns can shift perceptions of
enmity.
NOW THAT WE HAVE AN
IDEA

Let’s get to what people think about it.

WHO ARE PARTICIPATING?

14 - 18Yrs = 77% 14-18Yrs

18 - 30Yrs = 13% 18-30Yrs

30 – 40Yrs = 6%
30-40Yrs
40+ Yrs = 4%
40+ Yrs
 YOUR COUNTRY DECLARES WAR ON ANOTHER COUNTRY,
WHAT WOULD YOUR FIRST IMPRESSION BE ?

Yayy!! Let's go get them = 26.7%

I think we would be good = 20% "Yayy!! Let's go get them"

"I think we would be good"

it's gonna be tough = 26.7%
"It's gonna be tough"

This is a bad idea" = 26.7%

"This is a bad idea"
I think we would be good
I
 ON THE FIRST PHASE OF THE WAR, YOUR COUNTRY HAS
MADE DECENT PROGRESS, WHAT WOULD YOUR OPINION
BE ON CONTINUING THE WAR ?

Let's make exceptional progress =

40% Let's make exceptional progress

Let's be happy with what we

Let's be happy with what we have have
gained
gained = 46.7% I think we should call it a day

I think we should call it a day =

13.3%
 ON THE FIRST PHASE OF THE WAR, YOUR COUNTRY HAS
SUFFERED LOSSES, WHAT WOULD YOUR OPINION BE ?

We can win this = 53.3%

We can win this

We should make peace = 40%

We should make peace

We should surrender = 6.7%

We should surrender
 AS THE WAR CONTINUES, WHAT WOULD YOUR CALLS BE
ON THE INNOCENT CITIZENS OF THE OPPONENT
COUNTRY BE ?
"We can win this""We should make peace""We should surrender"40%53.3%
As the war continues, what would your calls be on the innocent citizens of the opponent country be ?

They are also human, no harm They are also

human, no
should be made = 73.3% harm should
be made

They are just

They are just war sacrifices = 6.7% war sacrifices

We should uproot them = 20% We should

uproot them
 DURING THE PEACE AGREEMENT, THE NEGOTIATIONS
WERE WELL IN YOUR COUNTRY'S FAVOR , WHAT DO YOU
HAVE TO SAY ABOUT IT ?
"We can win this""We should make peace""We should surrender"40%53.3%
As the war continues, what would your calls be on the innocent citizens of the opponent country be ?

We should give something back =

We should give something
33.3% back

We should restore everything

We should restore everything as it as it was
before the war
was before the war = 40%
We should take more

We should take more = 26.7%

 DURING THE PEACE AGREEMENT, THE NEGOTIATIONS
ARE STRONGLY AGAINST YOUR COUNTRY'S FAVOR ,
WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO SAY ABOUT IT ?
"We can win this""We should make peace""We should surrender"40%53.3%
As the war continues, what would your calls be on the innocent citizens of the opponent country be ?

They are doing wrong on us = 26.7% They are doing wrong

on us

We should restore everything as it

We should restore
was before the war = 20% everything as it was
before the war

We should continue the war = 53.3% We should continue

the war
 AFTER WINNING THE WAR, YOU SEE TOURISTS FROM
THE OPPONENT COUNTRY, WHAT WOULD BE THE FIRST
THOUGHT THAT COMES TO YOUR MIND ?
"We can win this""We should make peace""We should surrender"40%53.3%
As the war continues, what would your calls be on the innocent citizens of the opponent country be ?

They deserved it =
13.3% They deserved it

They gave a good fight = They gave a good fight

20%
Maybe it was too harsh
on them
Maybe it was too harsh
on them =66.7%
 AFTER LOSING THE WAR, YOU SEE TOURISTS FROM THE
OPPONENT COUNTRY , WHAT WOULD BE THE FIRST
THOUGHT THAT COMES TO YOUR MIND ?
"We can win this""We should make peace""We should surrender"40%53.3%
As the war continues, what would your calls be on the innocent citizens of the opponent country be ?

They are inhumane = 13.3%

They are inhumane

It was a worthy opponent = 60%

It was a worthy opponent

Maybe we gave an easy win =

Maybe we gave an easy win
26.7%
CONCLUSION
War, the concept of enemies, and the pursuit of peace are deeply
intertwined elements of human history and experience. While war
often stems from conflict, fear, and misunderstanding, it leaves
behind destruction and suffering. The perception of enemies, shaped
by psychological, cultural, and political factors, can fuel animosity
and escalate violence. However, through diplomacy, dialogue, and
mutual understanding, these divisions can be bridged, allowing for
the resolution of conflicts and the restoration of peace.
Peace, while often fragile, remains a vital aspiration, achieved not
through the absence of conflict alone but through the ongoing efforts
to reconcile differences, rebuild trust, and promote cooperation. As
history shows, the journey from war to peace is long and
challenging, but it is essential for the well-being of individuals,
societies, and nations. By embracing diplomacy and understanding,
we can transform enemies into partners and build a future founded
on coexistence, respect, and shared humanity.
THANK YOU