11.5.1 Reasons for War

Causes of War

Key Causes of War

1. Greed

• Examples:
  • Territorial Expansion: A nation may initiate war to gain more land or to regain territory that was previously lost.
  • Resource Control: Wars can be fought over valuable resources like oil, minerals, or water, which are essential for a nation's economy and development.

2. Self-Defence

• Examples:
  • National Security: A country may go to war to defend itself from an invading force or to protect its sovereignty.
  • Protection of Allies: Nations may enter a war to defend an ally that has been attacked, based on mutual defence agreements or treaties.

3. Retaliation

• Examples:

Case Study: The Falklands War (1982)

Background:

• The Falklands War was a conflict between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands, a British overseas territory in the South Atlantic Ocean.
• Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands on April 2, 1982, claiming sovereignty over the islands, which had been under British control since the 1830s.

Causes of the War:

• Territorial Dispute (Greed):
  • Argentina claimed the Falkland Islands as part of its territory and sought to assert control over them, viewing the islands as being unjustly occupied by the UK.
• Self-Defence:
  • The United Kingdom viewed Argentina's invasion as an act of aggression and launched a military campaign to defend its territory and citizens on the Falklands.
• Retaliation:
  • The UK's military response was also driven by the need to retaliate against Argentina's unprovoked invasion and to reassert British sovereignty over the islands.
• Outcome:
  • The UK successfully regained control of the Falkland Islands after a two-month conflict.
  • The war resulted in the deaths of 649 Argentine military personnel, 255 British military personnel, and three Falkland Islanders.
  • The conflict significantly impacted Argentina's government, leading to the downfall of its military dictatorship.

Summary

• Causes of War: Key causes include greed (territorial and resource acquisition), self-defence (protecting a nation or allies), and retaliation (responding to aggression).
• Case Study - The Falklands War: This conflict exemplifies how greed, self-defence, and retaliation can lead to war, with significant consequences for the nations involved.