Wars are just to those to whom they are necessary.
Edmund BurkeRead
War is not in itself a condition so much as the symptom of a condition, that of international anarchy. If we wish to substitute for war the settlement of disputes by justice, we must first substitute for the condition of international anarchy a condition of international order
Interpretation
What this quote means
War stems from a lack of order among nations rather than being an inherent condition. Establishing peace requires first creating an organized international system.
The quote by Alfred Hermann Fried suggests that war is not an inevitable state of affairs, but rather a manifestation of deeper issues such as international disorder and anarchy. To replace war with peaceful conflict resolution, it is essential to eliminate the chaotic conditions that lead to such conflicts, thereby promoting a structured and just international order.
Themes
WarPeaceInternational OrderJusticeAnarchy
In practice
Example use cases
During a peace conference, one might quote Fried to emphasize the need for structured international relations.
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