Aggression and the Institution of War

Abstract

When one individual intentionally harms another, we describe the behaviour as ‘aggression’. When one nation invades another, we use the same term. Yet, except for the intentional infliction of harm on others, the two phenomena are very different. To understand individual aggression, we have to understand the bases of aggressiveness in individuals, but individual aggression plays only a minor and mostly indirect role in modern war. To understand war we must come to terms with aspects of group functioning as well as individual behaviour. More importantly, we must recognise that war is an institution with numerous constituent roles, and that it is the duties and rights associated with those roles that are primarily responsible for motivating the behaviour of individuals. It follows that if we are to reduce the incidence of war, we must understand the diverse forces that maintain the institution of war. That is the aim of this collection of essays. This introductory chapter attempts to sketch the theoretical background for this view.