General Discussion

LooseWilly

(4,477 posts)

30. Two states that are "capitalist" are less likely to fight... like Germany and the UK in 1914?

Wed Feb 15, 2012, 03:00 AM

Feb 2012

The premise is bullshit.

Capitalist countries have fought, and fought again... and the US won. Now "our" imperialism is at the head of the "pecking order" of capitalist/imperialist nations... and just like there are no fights in a pack of wild dogs (until one seems to be weak), likewise there are no fights amongst capitalist nations.

(And, I would add... you seem to be glossing over the "profit motivation" amongst government officials... which leads them to behave in a selectively inefficient manner when it comes not only to regulation, but wholesale enforcement of the law, vz a viz those corporations from whom they expect to score plum executive employment opportunities.)

I'll get back to you in about a month with a more in-depth rebuttal to the article though... and then I'll submit my DU response as a thesis for an MA in economics and/or PEIS.

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Highlight:

The Capitalist Peace: Why a Capitalist World Means a World At Peace [View all] BrentWil Feb 2012 OP

I like the idea for discussion-- and I generally disagree with your premise... mike_c Feb 2012 #1

I will be happy to exchange ideas whenever you are back NT BrentWil Feb 2012 #2

Peace at the barrel of a gun...... marmar Feb 2012 #3

I would agree to somewhat.. BrentWil Feb 2012 #4

Two states that are "capitalist" are less likely to fight... like Germany and the UK in 1914? LooseWilly Feb 2012 #30

"Auferre trucidare rapere falsis nominis imperium, atque ubi solitudinem faciunt pacem appellant" alcibiades_mystery Feb 2012 #5

We have made some huge foreign policy mistakes... but what have we turned into a desert? BrentWil Feb 2012 #6

Living standards in Iraq are worse than before the war Lydia Leftcoast Feb 2012 #7

Huge steps forward in some ways, yes. white_wolf Feb 2012 #11

Capitalism makes a desert alcibiades_mystery Feb 2012 #15

Lemme see, according to Congressman Filner nadinbrzezinski Feb 2012 #27

Don't forget the depleted uranium munitions we dropped all over Serbia during the Kosovo War. nt Selatius Feb 2012 #32

Two World Wars disagree with your premise. white_wolf Feb 2012 #8

I think the author wouldn't argue that it makes more impossible, just less likely NT BrentWil Feb 2012 #12

LOL. Capitalism = Endless War. Odin2005 Feb 2012 #9

ignoring WWI, WWII, etc. just discard all the inconvenient conflicts. Warren Stupidity Feb 2012 #10

The general argument is that war is less likely, not impossible NT BrentWil Feb 2012 #13

Less likely than what? Than feudalism? alcibiades_mystery Feb 2012 #16

Well, it looks at the years between 1950-92. BrentWil Feb 2012 #19

The capitalist powers were less likely to go to war, because they were united against a common foe white_wolf Feb 2012 #20

But does it fall apart after 92? I mean, off hand, I can't think of many examples of two countries BrentWil Feb 2012 #22

Given your timeframe, it's just as legitimate alcibiades_mystery Feb 2012 #21

There were no huge wars because both sides had nuclear weapons, not necessarily due to trade. Selatius Feb 2012 #31

There were plenty of wars between '50-'92... but the "variables" indicate previous surrender... LooseWilly Feb 2012 #33

This is what he uses and the rational BrentWil Feb 2012 #54

cherry pick much? Warren Stupidity Feb 2012 #34

He just uses the data set that most political scientist use: BrentWil Feb 2012 #56

the general argument was made 20 years ago and was self-serving stupid then Warren Stupidity Feb 2012 #18

History says otherwise MadHound Feb 2012 #14

When the machines for war are a commodity in a capitalist society, DJ13 Feb 2012 #17

Mmmmmm.......how's that been workin' for ya so far? kestrel91316 Feb 2012 #23

obvious that gov must be an adversary of criminal capitalism tiny elvis Feb 2012 #24

imperialism is the highest stage of capitalism. provis99 Feb 2012 #25

I do not agree. PowerToThePeople Feb 2012 #26

Of course there is another problem with this argument nadinbrzezinski Feb 2012 #28

Correlation is not causation. JDPriestly Feb 2012 #29

If capitalism is libtodeath Feb 2012 #35

I think you are dead wrong. GeorgeGist Feb 2012 #36

.. mdmc Feb 2012 #37

If this assertion is true, then clearly the world is not now tledford Feb 2012 #38

Actually conflict is generally trending downwards... NT BrentWil Feb 2012 #40

Totally! If it weren't for capitalism raouldukelives Feb 2012 #39

Huh? mmonk Feb 2012 #41

Of course you have to willfully ignore the overwhelming abundance of evidence to the contrary. Edweird Feb 2012 #42

lol... yeah, convincing fascisthunter Feb 2012 #43

Now let's try some facts: TBF Feb 2012 #44

The argument is that two states with an open market are less likely to fight a war... BrentWil Feb 2012 #45

We have been at war through our entire existence, which means the study is whack. nt TBF Feb 2012 #48

"open markets" often being a tidy neoliberal euphemism.. girl gone mad Feb 2012 #49

I think it just means generally free economic interactions between states. BrentWil Feb 2012 #53

The US ceased being Capitalist decades ago Creideiki Feb 2012 #46

How are we not capitalist? white_wolf Feb 2012 #47

Capitalists wage war on countries all the time lunatica Feb 2012 #50

I would disagree... BrentWil Feb 2012 #52

Trade, and open borders have always helped to lead to peace. RB TexLa Feb 2012 #51

This message was self-deleted by its author whatchamacallit Feb 2012 #55