War: what is it good for?

“Necessity is the mother of invention.”

War, to site the cliché, is hell. Recently, the ongoing media coverage of war has been given yet another affair to talk about, what with North Korea pulling out a whole new sack of crazy and claiming that they have the resources to declare war on the US.

But I’m not going to talk about that today, although this video gives an interesting, calm and entertaining view on the issue for those who are interested.

Rather, I’m going to talk about war in more general terms, and about the fact that despite the terrible terrible things that have happened because of it, we owe a lot to war.

Technology

It goes without saying (and yet, I’m going to say it anyway) that so much of the technology we have today is because of the technology developed for war.
This computer that I’m typing on right now is because of war. The internet connection I’m using the send these words out into the world is derivative of war.
Duct tape, the world most useful thing for any purpose ever, was invented because of war. Microwaves, epipens, satellites, rubber, and even female sanitary items (and all the males went UUUUUURGH) were originally invented to be used in war.
And then of course, the nominal amount of weapons and inhumane practices that were discovered because of war. Can’t forget those.

Societal Change

I wonder if feminism would have come as far if not for war.
War had all the men going off to fight, so who was going to be back at home making sure society kept on functioning.
Enter, the ladies!
During times of war women stepped up to the plate, stepping into jobs as well as keeping their families functioning until the war was over. When the men came back however, women weren’t prepared to slip back into the role of meek and obedient housewife. Women had tasted liberation and wanted more.

War is a factor that creates unity between nations in as much a way as it divides them. A common purpose is an excellent ground to forge alliances, and what better common ground is there then a common enemy?
Who your allies are in times of war has massive repercussions on international relations. For example, China supported recent UN sanctions against North Korea, which has helped contribute towards North Korea’s current state of unrest as China are meant to be North Koreas major (and only) ally.
Australia’s affinity with the US is because of war: beyond a shared history, if we were ever attacked we’d sure as hell want them on our side.

Pop Culture

Trivial though this may seem, can you imagine a world without key works from Bob Dylan or Joni Mitchell? Without Forest Gump, Schindler’s List or Life is Beautiful? Without the Diary of Ann Frank, Les Miserables and The Book Thief?
From video games to ANZAC biscuits, war inspires art, and inspires culture.
I’m not saying that the existence of these things justifies war. I’m just saying, without war, they wouldn’t exist.

So what’s your point?

My point is that war is a catalyst for change and innovation, and is something that holds massive weighting in networked culture. From the ways we network, to why we network, and the movements and innovations because of it’s existence, war is a history that defines the human race and how we ended up where we are today.

Even hatred for war and a common belief that it is a bad thing is something that unites us and gives a common ground.

So, when we ask war, what is it good for? Just remember the irony.