Category: Warfare

Introduction

The question of what is terrorism has long been debated among theorists, experts, and politicians. Perhaps experts would have agreed on a single definition long ago if the problem had not included a religious component. When religion becomes an actor in the context of terrorism, brutal acts of violence can result. In current conditions, terrorism, unfortunately, has transformed into a large-scale and widespread socio-political phenomenon, which has a complex structure, features, and specificity, which is due to existing contradictions in modern society. However, religious motivation is the most radical, as the very basis of religion, a person who believes in post-mortem existence is the least subject to rational influence. All mass murders are terrorism, but they have temporal characteristics, and each branch of religious tradition affects the nature of the crimes.

Main body

One of the first currents to be considered within the framework of the research question is the Sicarians. A unique set of circumstances emerged in the Southern Levant in the middle of the first century, which created the environment for the emergence of violence among the Jews (Rapport 667). In today’s world, not everyone characterizes their activities as terrorism. However, the activity of the Sicarians against the Romans was violent and massive, which meets the definition of terrorism. The method of killing people in a crowd and then quickly slipping away from the scene was very disturbing to those around them. A distinctive feature of the Sicarians was that their aggression was primarily directed against other Jews whom they regarded as collaborators or indifferent to Roman domination (Rapport 665). They managed to get away with it quickly, due to their alleged behavior and the states’ intervention.

Assassins are also members of the secret Shiite Ismaili religious sect. The earliest mention of Assassins in Europe dates back to the first Crusades (Rapport 665). The secret organization, composed mainly of Persians, with a rigid internal hierarchy and discipline, passionate devotion to its leaders, as a result of terrorist activities and the atmosphere of secrecy that enveloped it, gained influence entirely out of proportion to its numbers. For nearly three centuries, this sect of suicidal fanatics terrorized virtually the entire early medieval world with mystical terror (Rapport 665). They are comparable to terrorists, for there was not a single person who could escape the death sentence handed down by the Assassins. Despite numerous guards and high impregnable walls, kings were killed on their thrones, and imams, sheiks, and sultans found death in their bedchambers.

Moreover, mention should be made of the Fancigarian current as one of the most brutal religious movements. The stranglers committed murders motivated by a sense of religious duty; their aim was murder, not the accompanying robbery, which coincides with the definition of terrorism. The Fansigars lived inconspicuously in the villages, fulfilling their social and civic duties with no recriminations. William Slimane was the first European to discover the religious nature of the Fansigars’ terrible activities: the murders were, for them, nothing more than sacrifices made in honor of the dark goddess Kali (Rapport 660). Many high-ranking Hindus in this criminal activity acted as customers of murders, patrons of gangs, and buyers of victims’ property. For the Fancigarians, murder was a creative act so eerily perverted by their minds infected with religious fanaticism. They perceived this terrifying creative act as a special privilege, and it gave the villains profound satisfaction.

Conclusion

The modern terrorist serves a political purpose that can only be achieved by human effort, and he chooses the most appropriate ends and means, not God. However, modern terrorist organizations) are also often associated with religious groups since religion can be a significant factor in ethnic identity. For decades humanity has been trying to define terrorism. Still, the main point is that the mass and brutality of attacks committed by religious groups have caused irreparable damage to society. Perhaps their deeds do not meet modern definitions of terrorism, but for that time, they can indeed be considered terrorists.

Work Cited

Rapoport, David. 1984. “Fear and Trembling: Terrorism in Three Religious Traditions.” American Political Science Review, vol.78, no. 3, pp. 658-677.

Introduction

“The Cold War: Global Conflict, Regional Upheavals,” by Fred Halliday, explores the implications of policies that were formulated during the Cold War and the atrocities that followed the Middle East up to the twenty-first century. The seeds of crisis followed in a political and social-economic manner and not a religious context. The war had multi-layered competition comprised of intense competition between political loyalties for economic advantage. According to Halliday (2005), the battle included upheavals within the states, protracted inter-national negotiations, and dramatic military crises. Within the Middle East, the USSR had a great interest in the region due to the challenges that emerged along its southern border. Contrary, the US had a significant concern about Israel and the Arabic World since it relied on OPEC oil provisions. Hence, Dominated by the Cold War, many social movements and local states sought to exploit this conflict to explore individual interests. The chapter includes a detailed explanation of the phases the Cold War took and the events that led to the Middle East shifting its social status and becoming a target region for propelling political agendas by the superpowers.

Paper’s Main Arguments

The paper argues that the superpowers in the Cold War had different interests in the Middle East, which motivated them to conquer the region. Specifically, according to Halliday (2005), the Cold War in the Middle East was surrounded by tactical cross-currents. For instance, the United States had radical and deliberate interests in Israel and significant monetary goals in oil in the Arabian Peninsula to enhance their political and financial competency. Contrarily, the USSR was more concerned about the security threats on the southern border, which made them focus more on non-Arab neighbors.

Reaction

Paper Strengths

The article does an incredible job of using research evidence and facts to prove the interests of the two superpowers in the Middle East. With the constant reference to the existing literature, the author clearly illustrates that the argument is well-researched and thought off, making it more convincing. Thus, one of the strengths of this article is the use of academic sources to understand the events that led to the Cold War in the Middle East and draw informed conclusions. The workflow of the article gives an in-depth analogy of the events occurring and gives the reader a plan.

Moreover, as a large piece of work, the use of headings and sub-headings allows the readers to understand the key concepts that support the paper’s ideas. Indeed, the titles make the job more appealing since they visually convey different levels of importance and allow the reader to differentiate between the Cold War events from one country to the other. Altogether, the subheadings give the readers further insights and support for the concepts of the leading paper.

Paper Weaknesses

However, the paper uses complex language that may make it hard for an audience who lacks knowledge of historical concepts to understand. Specifically, the chapter utilizes complex language that influences the audience’s levels of understanding and comprehension. Although the audience might be people interested in historical concepts, the use of complicated terms and descriptions may only favor people with unique historical backgrounds.

Personal Reflection

I agree with the concepts of this paper that the Cold War had profound impacts on the Middle East region, its people, states, and the significance of the area in the entire international system. The interrelationship of nationalism, religion, and oil contributed to the widening gap between the Arabs and the Soviets. Islam emerged as a unifying force against Israel and the West as Arab nationalism gained favor. The development of OPEC and the modern Arab world was based on all three, which increased Arab mistrust of outside interference. As a result, it is crucial to recognize that the Cold War left its mark on the region’s dominance through many allies that were allied with either the US or the Russian Federation (the former USSR).

Conclusion

Overall, “The Cold War: Global Conflict, Regional Upheavals,” by Fred Halliday, is an informative work that clearly illustrates the impacts and role of the Cold War in the Middle East. With the help of past literature and scientific evidence, the author takes the audience through the basic concepts that made the US and USSR conquer the region. Besides, it effectively highlights the overall impacts of the process. I agree with most ideas of this paper since the Cold War in the Middle East region adversely affected the nation and its people. Indeed, the events during the war made the area remain a hotbed of conflicts. Hence, I recommend this chapter to anyone interested in historical issues and facts behind the war in the Middle East.

Reference

Halliday. F. (2005). The Cold War: Global Conflict, Regional Upheavals. in Halliday.F, The Middle East in International Relations (pp. 97-129). Cambridge University Press

Introduction

Terrorism is an insidious problem that has persisted for centuries and shows no signs of going away. It is no secret that terrorist groups constantly threaten national and local governments and their citizens. In this context, terrorism is regarded as unlawful violence or force against persons or property to coerce a government and its populace into accepting a social or political ideology. Terrorist groups each have their distinct mode of operations, structure, and ideologies to achieve their objectives, as seen in the case of Shining Path in Peru and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). The difference between these two terrorist groups exists in the ideologies guiding their actions, their objectives, and the approaches they employ to fulfill them.

Difference in Ideology

The first difference between the two groups is that the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia was a Marxist-Leninist guerrilla group, while the Shining Path endorsed Maoism. According to Marxism-Leninism, to abolish capitalism, a communist revolution must take place in two stages (Smit, 2021). First, a vanguard party, created through democratic centralism, would seize power on behalf of the proletariat and establish a one-party socialist state, which would be referred to as the dictatorship of the proletariat. On the other hand, the proclaimed objective of the Shining Path, which adheres to the Daoism ideology, has been to replace the bourgeois institutions of Peru with a communist peasant revolutionary rule, most likely after going through the Maoist developmental stage of New Democracy first.

Differences in Objectives

The second difference between these two groups exists in their aims or objectives. Guided by Marxism–Leninism ideologies, the FARC originally aimed to overthrow the government. After the civil war that lasted from 1948 to 1958 ended, the principal goal of this group was to ensure that the impoverished people living in the rural regions were fairly represented and that their resources were fairly distributed. In addition, they were against any interference from global corporations or governments, notably the United States. Nonetheless, it is the US government that still came to aid of Colombia help sign a peace accord with FARC in 2016, ending more than half a century of conflict (U.S Department of State, 2021). The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia saw itself as a grassroots movement that stood up for the rights of the country’s impoverished and disenfranchised (Coronado, 2019). The Shining Path terrorist group, on the other hand, sought to overthrow Peru’s established government in favor of a communist peasant revolutionary government. Terrorists also wanted to limit the impact of competing Latin American guerilla forces and other foreign ideologies. Finally, the group’s goal was to establish a Maoist regime by abolishing existing institutions.

Differences in Cause of Action to Implementing Their Objectives

The third difference comes in the forms of action they undertook to try and implement their objectives. The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia initially depended on kidnappings for ransom. Eventually, they turned to drug trafficking to finance their operations, which proved immensely useful in establishing guerrilla training camps and launching attacks. As a result, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia were a terrorist organization, drug cartel, and violent abduction gang that endangered the security of Columbia and its neighbors. In contrast, Shining Path mostly used protests and illegally used violence against civilians to try to coerce the government into accepting its social and political ideology. Finally, after over a decade of recruitment, introspection, and organization, Shining Path made its first offensive on Peruvian society in July 1980 (Gao, 2021). These two groups thus used different approaches to advance their objectives.

Conclusion

Right from a historical point during the formation of these terrorist groups, a clear distinction existed between them. While the two groups are characterized by causing revolutions in the specific countries they operate in, the approaches they use towards executing these revolutions, which more often cause harm to citizens, differ. The traditional ideologies of Maoism and Marxist-Leninism take center stage in defining their differences, defining the disparity in what motivated these two groups towards pursuing the various revolutions they have engaged in.

References

Coronado, S. (2019). Rights in the time of populism: land and institutional change amid the reemergence of right-wing authoritarianism in Colombia. Land, 8(8), 119. Web.

Gao, J. (2021). Causing troubles elsewhere: the Shining Path and its international networks, 1980-1993. Asian Journal of Latin American Studies, 34(1), 49-75. Web.

Smit, P. S. (2021). A presuppositional analysis of key concepts of the worldview of the South African Communist Party (Doctoral dissertation, North-West University (South-Africa). Web.

U.S Department of State, (2021) U.S. relations with Colombia: bilateral relations factsheet. Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs. Web.

Internal Political Situation

After the withdrawal of the United States troops from Afghanistan, the Taliban took over power in Kabul. The geopolitical uncertainty of Central Asia has emerged because of the fear that the Afghan state might become a springboard for different terrorist groups in the region (Soliev and Pantucci 90). The past two years have shown no signs of terrorist attacks, but countering extremism and terrorism remained a security issue for the Central Asian states. It is mainly accrued to potential risks emerging from the activities and presence of Central Asian jihadist groups in neighbouring Afghanistan. The country is now under the Taliban rule after they took power in August 2021 (Soliev and Pantucci 91). In both conflict theatres, Central Asian fighters persist to fight under the control and protection of bigger militant groups, for example, the Taliban, Islamic State (IS), and Hay’ at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) (Pannier 3). Hence, the Taliban takeover of Kabul has come with complexity in security dilemmas along their borders.

Taliban Rule

Consequently, the major issue in regional security is militant groups in Central Asia that were fighting alongside the Taliban can exploit the current situation to refocus and regroup their attention against them. Central Asia has several ways to interlink through cross-border communities and porous borders, and connected economies bring them together (Cho 35). The prevalent military in Afghanistan could result in an unstable state, where the violence could overspill in other ways to the region (Pannier 6). Afghanistan hosts many Central Asian militant groups, as they operate under the Taliban’s control and protection (Soliev and Pantucci 90). The groups are used to conducting substantial attacks in the region from their sites in Afghanistan as they maintain their links with the Al-Qaeda and Taliban.

Furthermore, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan have depended on the Taliban to thwart non-state actors from launching their border attacks after the U.S. withdrew from the country. However, in recent months, the IS has attacked mosques in the Central Asia region bombing Uzbekistan (Cho 39). The region-worsening situation shows the limitations of their security strategies and it reveals that they need to have a few alternatives in addressing the new threat on their borders. The Taliban appears to be losing control of northern Afghanistan leading to security deterioration in the region (Pannier 10). Hence, Central Asian regimes cannot ignore what is happening across the border because of the potential benefits of expanding trade with South Asian states and it outweighs the uncertainties of working with the Taliban.

Human Right Violation

Unfortunately, after seizing power, the Taliban rule has imposed stern restrictions on girls’ and women’s rights, arbitrarily tortured, detained, and executed perceived opponents and critics in Afghanistan. Hence, the country is experiencing an increase in extrajudicial killings, torture, and detentions. As on June 2022, Afghanistan had recorded a minimum of 160 extrajudicial killings of security forces and government leaders (Akbari and True 2). In addition, they have ignored the basic services to improve the lives of citizens, such as healthcare and water. Afghans are grappling with the erosion of fundamental human rights nationwide (Altınay and Pető 12). They have suppressed media in the country despite the generally significant decline in armed violence (Ahmad and Mohammad 2040). Girls’ and women’s rights to involvement in the workplace, education, and other facets of daily and public life have been limited.

The Economic State that Led to the Humanitarian crisis

However, the Taliban’s controlling the country has resulted in international donors freezing assets worth billions of dollars and halting most non-humanitarians funding. They have been issued with economic sanctions and other limitations from the global community that has increased the dire humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan (Shahi 110). Without the financing, most healthcare facilities, and education, have shut down, and the economy has deteriorated as the state struggles with the current hunger and drought crisis. This has contributed to millions of Afghan being displaced across the borders to Central Asian countries (Ahmad and Mohammad 2040). The situation has escalated the humanitarian crises in the region due to the increased number of refugees and immigrants.

Works Cited

Ahmad, Ayesha, and Haqmal Mohammad. “A Year after the Taliban Took Power, Afghanistan Faces Economic and Humanitarian Crises.” BMJ, vol. 3, no. 1, 2022, p. 2040.

Akbari, Farkhondeh, and Jacqui True. “One year on from the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan: re-instituting gender apartheid.” Australian Journal of International Affairs, vol. 1, no. 2, 2022, pp. 1-10.

Altınay, Ayşe G., and Andrea Pető. “Women’s courageous resistance to gender apartheid in Afghanistan: A conversation with Shaharzad Akbar.” European Journal of Women’s Studies, vol. 3, no. 1, 2022, pp. 1-17.

Cho, Sungtaek. “Afghanistan s Tribe Mosaic, Weak State, and Taliban Rule.” J-Institute, vol. 7, no. 1, 2022, pp. 31-41.

Pannier, Bruce. “Northern Afghanistan and the New Threat to Central Asia.” Foreign Policy Research Institute, vol. 1, no. 1, 2022, pp. 1-22.

Safi, Najibullah, et al. “Afghanistan’s health system under the Taliban: key challenges.” The Lancet, vol. 400, no. 10359, 2022, pp. 1179-1180.

Shahi, D. K. “Afghanistan and its neighbourhood challenges and opportunities of international interaction.” Asian Journal of Research in Social Sciences and Humanities, vol. 12, no. 6, 2022, pp. 106-118.

Soliev, Nodirbek, and Raffaello Pantucci. “Counter Terrorist Trends and Analyses.” International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research, vol. 14, no. 1, 2022, pp. 90-98.

The War Guilt Clause is one of the most controversial articles of the Treaty of Versailles. According to it, all the blame for the First World War was placed on Germany, which had to cede territory and pay reparations to the victors. On the one hand, the War Guilt Clause was a necessary and just punishment for Germany’s aggression. However, on the other hand, this article of the Versailles Treaty exerted significant pressure on Germany, destabilizing the social and political situation in the country.

The Treaty of Versailles was the end of the First World War. This document was signed in 1919 between Germany and the USA, France, and Great Britain (National Geographic, 2022). According to this treaty, Germany was recognized as the main culprit of the war. As a result, it lost territories, was obliged to reduce the army and was forced to pay reparations to the Entente countries to restore the destroyed infrastructure and economy (National Geographic, 2022). This clause of the treaty did not consider the interests of the Germans, who suffered due to the war. Consequently, this treaty had an advantage only for the winners’ countries.

Germany’s financial obligations aside, the War Guilt Clause was fairly lenient. The victorious countries did not occupy Germany and its allies (National Geographic, 2022). However, it would take several decades for the country to pay reparations. This significantly affected the social mood in the country and demoralized the Germans, which created favorable conditions for a change in the political regime in the country. When Hitler came to power with a call to restore the pride and greatness of Germany, many Germans expressed their support for him. Consequently, the War Guilt Clause is one of the preconditions for the outbreak of World War II.

Thus, the War Guilt Clause is a controversial article of the Treaty of Versailles since it had both positive aspects and negative consequences. The German aggression had to be punished, and the payment of reparations could be considered the necessary compensation for the damage caused. Moreover, the Versailles Treaty was quite lenient since Germany kept the territories that belonged to her before the war. However, the financial responsibilities assigned to the country contributed to the Germans’ demoralization and the political system’s destabilization. As a result, the Nazi Party rose to power and gained access to the resources needed to start World War II.

Reference

National Geographic. (2022). Treaty of Versailles. National Geographic. Web.

As a result of the conflict in Ukraine, multiple Ukrainians were forced to leave the country. The Russian military advances have generated a major migration crisis which has resulted in civilians losing their homes. While exact statistics on homelessness are not available, the current arrangements with the countries in which they reside put them in a vulnerable position in which they can be considered homeless after their housing arrangements expire. Most of the refugees have fled to Russia and Poland (2,852,395 and 1,529,355, respectively) (Statista, 2022). Thus, it is certain that in case homelessness becomes an issue due to the expiration of housing placements, the two countries will be the ones with the largest numbers of homeless refugees.

However, Ukrainian refugees have escaped to several other European countries due to the challenging situation within the country generated as a result of the war with Russia. Namely, Germany welcomed more than 1 million Ukrainians between February and December 2022 (Statista, 2022). The Czech Republic has ranked fourth among the countries with the most Ukrainian refugees. According to current statistics, almost half a million Ukrainians currently reside in Czechia due to the conflict.

The current statistics, while not directly highlighting the homelessness variable, illustrate the countries in which the phenomenon can be the most significant in case the war continues, and the refugee status is revoked. Moreover, the aforementioned statistics do not highlight internal immigration in which Ukrainians have migrated to other cities within Ukraine. Nonetheless, all the aspects of emigration portray circumstances in which individuals lose their homes and have unstable housing due to the war and the dangers correlating with the current events linked to the military conflict.

Reference

Statista. (2022). Ukrainian refugees by country 2022. Statista. Web.

Many nations in the world are what they are today mostly because of their ancient roots. A country with deep roots in terms of culture, ethics and politics stands firm in its decisions and therefore not swaggered by any uprising issues. A good example is the United States of America which because of its roots continues to be the super power of the world.

Iraq which is a country located in the Middle East has shallow roots despite the name Iraq in Arabic meaning well rooted. Essentially Iraq was colonised by Britain and from their time of colonialism Iraq has not been independent as a nation (Hauss, 2009, p.5).

This was clearly evidenced during the making of the country’s first constitution which was an adoption of several chapters from the constitutions of the Western countries. This showed that Iraq rejected its own religion and doctrines which in the long run affected the political state of the country hence the decline of the Monarchy.

History shows that since then the country has been in wars and politically instable up to recent in this year that Iraq held their first elections. During the elections most the Iraqi nationalities were in fear of casting their votes because of the previous political stand of the nation.

The shallow roots of the country have also led to lack of economical development. Research shows that the Iraqi nationalities make up some of the most suppressed people both mentally and psychologically.

The oppression comes about because of lack of loyalty among the people who have neither culture nor ethics. The nation is therefore at war at most times hence lacking time to venture into activities that help in building the nation (Hauss, 2009, p.21). This has therefore led to a state that has a poor economy and depends on aid from well of countries.

The rise up of Saddam Hussein who is the leader of the Iraqi people brought more torture in the country. Saddam Hussein and his men managed to outdo the Americans by using the poison gas which killed so many people at a go. Also because of the previous failure in wars especially by United States of America and Kuwait, it gave more strength to Saddam Hussein which made him able to acquire his millions of men and buy weapons that were very sophisticated.

He was able to use his weapons of mass destruction together with troop of men to destroy millions of people. Another strategy used by Saddam Hussein was coalition with national friends who because of their support made it easier for him to attack.

However in the year 2003, everything revolved around and tables turned as Saddam and his men were attacked. This had been accelerated by the fact that the Al- Qaeda had attacked the World Trade centre in 2001 hence the Americans put more effort in their fight to destroy Saddam Hussein and his regime. The success of this was when Saddam was arrested and imprisoned hence putting an end to his regime. Iraq is currently recovering from its past and trying to catch-up as a democratic nation both economically and politically stable.

It can therefore be concluded that as you fight terrorism you end up creating more terrorists and in the long run become allies (Hauss, 2009, p.7). For example from the previous wars the United States became friends with Iraq and other countries like Afghanistan during the battle.

Reference List

Hauss, C. (2009). Comparative Politics: Domestic Responses to Global Challenges.

Sixth ed. Wadsworth, Cengage Learning

Terrorism financing facilitates recruitment by providing funds to cater to recruiters’ personal needs, maintaining the infrastructure for the recruitment process and disseminating recruitment materials. Besides, financing helps recruiters pay for goods and services to support the recruits’ participation in the organization’s early activities and provides financial incentives to recruits, such as hiring civil experts or mercenaries (Financial Action Task Force, 2022). For instance, increased financing attributed to the illegal sale of opium amounting to $3.1 billion in Afghanistan significantly increased the recruitment of young adults into terrorist organizations such as the Taliban and Al-Qaida associates (United Nations, 2022). Such led to increased drug trafficking and criminal activities, among other terrorist acts.

On the other hand, financing impacts the decision-making process of terrorist organizations, enabling them to make informed decisions based on their financial situations. Such include deciding on how to spend, save money, compare costs before purchasing terrorism equipment, or long-term savings for future terrorist activities. Also, financing affects how terrorist organizations plan their activities, affecting the decisions they make concerning the set budget. For instance, financing enabled Iraq terrorist groups to expand, recruit more members, and target new locations (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, 2022). Also, the Iraq terrorist groups launched new products and targeted larger demographics, which impacted the organizations’ overall decision-making process.

In the context of vulnerability, financing in terrorist organizations increases exposure to terrorism as more funds strengthen the organizations, facilitating their operations. For instance, increased funding of Iraq terrorist organizations has increased vulnerability to attacks, with the country recording increased criminal activities, money laundering, drug trafficking, and kidnapping, all attributed to terrorist organizations (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, 2022). Also, increased financing from both banking and non-banking institutions has facilitated the rising technology in terrorism in the country, increasing the country’s vulnerability to more advanced terrorist attacks.

References

Financial Action Task Force. (2022). Financing of recruitment for terrorist purposes. Documents – Financial Action Task Force (FATF). Web.

Moskalenko, S., & McCauley, C. R. (2020). Radicalization to terrorism. What everyone needs to know (R). Oxford University Press.

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. (2022). Combating terrorist financing. United Nations: Office on Drugs and Crime. Web.

United Nations. (2022). Drug trafficking and the financing of terrorism. United Nations: Office on Drugs and Crime. Web.

Holocaust may be regarded as a tragic aspect of human history characterized by the mass killing of people by a population group who defined them as racially, physically, and ideologically inferior. It began in 1933 with the political rise and power consolidation of Adolf Hitler in Germany. Inspired by the United States’ eugenics movement and racist history, he managed to spread the ideas of racial purity among people affected by the consequences of a global depression, promising the restoration of the country’s greatness and a better life. In general, there are multiple words related to the brutality of Holocaust, characterised by authoritarianism, intolerance, murders, concentration camps, and terror. At the same time, the word that describes Holocaust in the most appropriate way is genocide, as it reflects the Nazis’ values, beliefs, and actions to the fullest extent.

First of all, genocide is characterized by the recognition of particular racial, ethnic, national, or religious groups that should be defined as inferior in comparison with others. In Hitler’s Germany, called “The Third Reich,” the German race was regarded as the superior one, and the ideas of Aryanism were widely spread (Kupferberg Holocaust Center 2). According to the Nazis, pure, white, Germanic race should conquer and dominate all over the world by colonizing lands outside of the country’s borders. In turn, non-Aryan groups that included Jews, Blacks, Roma, Sinti, Slavic people, disabled individuals, and homosexuals, supposed to be terrorized and eliminated (Kupferberg Holocaust Center 2). They were regarded as racially inferior and invalid people who may spoil the German race – that is why they should be murdered or kept in concentration camps for labor, medical experiments, and entertainment.

Moreover, genocide is characterized by killing the members of these racial, ethnic, national, or religious groups. In 1939, Hitler authorized the mass killing of developmentally disabled infants and adults across the country to purify the race as these people were defined as “useless eaters” who placed a burden on Germany (Kupferberg Holocaust Center 8). This program was more horrific due to the fact that doctors and nurses, whose main responsibilities were to provide health care and medical treatment, played a key role in it. Thus, 250,000 disabled people who could not be used for labor were killed by lethal injection (Kupferberg Holocaust Center 8). Other disabled individuals were killed by Nazi police or murdered by systematic starvation. Moreover, in 1941, the Nazis decided to establish the “Final Solution to the Jewish Question” to underline Aryan supremacy (Kupferberg Holocaust Center 14). For it, all Jews under the Nazis’ control were supposed to be killed.

Finally, genocide is characterized by causing serious physical and mental harm to the members of these racial, ethnic, national, or religious groups. People who were defined by the Nazis as subhumans were placed in concentration camps where they were used as materials for medical experiments regardless of serious consequences for their physical and mental health or death. A series of inhuman and cruel experiments were conducted on approximately 7,000 incarcerated individuals, including Jews, Roma, Sinti, Poles, homosexuals, and others (Kupferberg Holocaust Center 26). German scientists and doctors aimed “to test the limits of human physiology, practice surgical treatments, attempt to prove their racist theories, and advance the science of the German war effort” (Kupferberg Holocaust Center 26). People were burnt, immersed in freezing water, and placed in chambers with changing air pressure to receive the results that could improve medicine for the superior race. Moreover, in concentration camps, people died in terrible conditions, and the transition between these camps represented scores of prisoners “tightly packed into the cars for days—shoulder to shoulder—with little food or water, standing in their own urine and feces, and often alongside corpses of those who died along the way” (Kupferberg Holocaust Center 21). At the same time, women suffered no less than men – those who were too young, too old, or weak were executed, while others were sent to forced labor camps or brothels across Europe occupied by the Nazis, where they were raped by soldiers and police officers. The majority of women were sterilized or subjected to forced abortions if pregnancy occurred.

To conclude, on the basis of data analysis, it is possible to state that genocide is the word that characterized Holocaust to the fullest extent. The principles of genocide include the recognition of particular racial, ethnic, national, or religious groups, mass killing, and causing severe physical and mental harm to their members. In the same way, Holocaust is characterized by the Nazis’ recognition of the superior Germanic race and inferior non-Aryan groups, including Jews, Blacks, Roma, Sinti, Slavic people, disabled individuals, and homosexuals, that should be terrorized and executed. Moreover, since its establishment, “The Third Reich” authorized the mass killing of disabled individuals and planned to kill all Jews to eliminate this nation. Finally, the members of non-Aryan groups were used as materials for medical experiments, entertainment, and forced labor regardless of the consequences of these measures on people’s mental and physical well-being.

Work Cited

Kupferberg Holocaust Center. “The Concentration Camps: Inside the Nazi System of Incarceration and Genocide.” KHC Exhibit, Web.

Summary

It is crucial to think about the long-term effects of continual exposure to fictional conflict as technology develops and the line between reality and virtuality fades. Division of labor may boost efficiency and lessen human deaths, but it also desensitizes us to the reality of battle and may have terrible genocidal effects. This idea of separating ourselves from the effects of violence is a double-edged sword. A particularly urgent concern is the current emphasis on the development of AI-driven or autonomous weaponry. A prohibition on future research into these technologies was demanded by the UN’s Campaign to Stop Killer Robots, which raised worries about the potential for dystopian outcomes and the blurring of the borders between reality and virtuality (Rees, 2021).

Nonetheless, plans to include “killer robots” in military forces raise concerns about the place of people in future conflicts. The introduction of sophisticated weapons systems during the First World War represented a fundamental shift in military and technical history, resulting in unparalleled levels of murder and damage, helped by the widespread employment of machine guns, which depersonalized killing (Sondhaus, 2020). With developments in drone technology, armchair strategists may now witness actual conflict from the comfort of their own homes, raising problems about involvement and desensitization.

The Impact of Technology and Media on the Perception of War: Ukraine

The invasion of Ukraine has drawn attention to the shifting experience of conflict as a result of technological and media breakthroughs. Remote-controlled warfare, made feasible by contemporary technology such as satellite systems and drones, has added a new dimension to how conflicts are waged and viewed. Furthermore, media coverage of the battle has created a virtual reality of what is happening on the ground, bringing the horrors of war into people’s homes. The use of satellite systems and drones allows military personnel to manage their activities from a distance, which may give the impression that they are detached from the repercussions of violence.

If not managed correctly, this division of labor, which separates those who make choices from those who carry out instructions, might have terrible, genocidal results. The thought of a virtual citizen-soldier using technology to prolong combat is alarming. As armchair tacticians evaluate drone assaults, the evolving battle experience raises issues about desensitization or enhanced participation. The advancement of AI-powered weaponry raises concerns about the future of combat, as humans may no longer be required to engage (Klare & Scharre, 2018). Following the screening of the dystopian short film “Slaughterbots,” the United Nations called for a moratorium on further research into this technology.

The Use of Video Games in Recruitment

Potential recruits can have a better understanding of military life by playing video games in recruiting. Investigating the use of video games in military recruiting was the PBS show Digital Nation. The emphasis of the documentary was on the use of video games by the US military as a recruiting tool. To entice potential recruits interested in action, adventure, and technology, the military used video games to mimic real-life combat situations and experiences. By leveraging these interactive and realistic experiences, the military was able to give prospective recruits a taste of what it would be like to serve in the military.

The Changing Experience of War

As seen by the invasion of Ukraine, advances in technology and communication have affected our perceptions of combat. Remote-controlled battles via drones and satellite systems, along with virtual reality coverage in the media, have altered the public’s perception of conflict. Video games have also gained popularity in military recruiting because they provide prospective troops with a realistic combat experience. This raises ethical concerns regarding the influence of technology on human perceptions of violence and conflict, emphasizing the importance of studying its long-term repercussions.

References

Rees, M. (2021). On the future: Prospects for humanity. Princeton University Press.

Sondhaus, L. (2020). World war one. Cambridge University Press.

Klare, M., & Scharre, P. (2018). Paradigm Shift: The Advance of Autonomous Weapons. Arms Control Today, 48(9), 39–43. Web.