World War I, often called the “Great War,” lasted from 1914 to 1918 and was one of the deadliest conflicts in history. It was primarily fought in Europe but had global implications. In 1914, with the invasion of Belgium, the world was set on edge. Finally in 1918, Armistice was achieved. There were 16 million killed.

1920 The League of Nations Founded to Prevent Future Wars

The League of Nations was founded in 1920 after World War I, with the ambitious goal of preventing future wars and promoting global peace. It was conceived as part of the Treaty of Versailles and heavily championed by U.S. President Woodrow Wilson, although the United States never became a member.

Goals of the League:

• Preventing War: The League sought to resolve international disputes through diplomacy and arbitration rather than violence.
• Disarmament: It aimed to reduce national armaments to prevent militarism.
  Collective Security: Members pledged to protect each other against aggression.
• Promoting Cooperation: It fostered collaboration on economic, social, and humanitarian issues.

The League’s aspiration to end all wars reflected the idealism of its era, but its limited powers and inability to address the root causes of conflict meant it could not fulfill this objective.

The League of Nations was established in 1920 following World War I, and it ceased to function effectively. Several conflicts occurred, including:

• Second Italo-Ethiopian War (1935–1936): Italy invaded Ethiopia, leading to a significant failure of the League of Nations, which could not prevent the aggression.
• Spanish Civil War (1936–1939): While not a formal war between nations, it involved significant international involvement, with Italy, Germany, and the Soviet Union backing different sides.
• World War II (1939–1945): The largest and most devastating conflict during this period, involving the Axis and Allied powers, ultimately demonstrated the League of Nations’ inability to maintain peace. World War II (1939–1945) resulted in an estimated 70–85 million deaths, making it the deadliest conflict in human history.

These wars highlighted the League’s weaknesses, such as its lack of enforcement power and the absence of key nations (e.g., the U.S.), leading to its replacement by the United Nations, which was designed to address these shortcomings

1945 United Nations then Founded to Maintain International Peace and Security

The United Nations was established following World War II to address the shortcomings of the League of Nations. Its purposes, outlined in the UN Charter, include:

1. Maintaining international peace and security.
2. Developing friendly relations among nations.
3. Promoting social progress, better living standards, and human rights.

The United Nations, which is comprised of many nations, is unable to achieve it’s goals. Over 250 wars and conflicts have occurred globally since 1945, including 2 major wars currently raging.

1. Korean War (1950–1953): A conflict between North Korea (supported by China and the Soviet Union) and South Korea (backed by the U.S. and UN).
2. Vietnam War (1955–1975): A prolonged conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, pitting communist forces against South Vietnam and its U.S. allies.
3. Suez Crisis (1956): A short war involving Egypt, Israel, Britain, and France over the nationalization of the Suez Canal.
4. Algerian War of Independence (1954–1962): A major conflict for independence from France.
5. Six-Day War (1967) and Yom Kippur War (1973): Key wars between Israel and its neighboring Arab states.
6. Iran-Iraq War (1980–1988): A devastating war over territorial disputes and political differences.
7. Soviet-Afghan War (1979–1989): A conflict between Afghan insurgents (supported by the U.S., Pakistan, and others) and Soviet forces.
8. Gulf War (1990–1991): A U.S.-led coalition expelled Iraqi forces from Kuwait.
9. Bosnian War (1992–1995): Part of the Yugoslav Wars, involving ethnic and territorial conflict in the Balkans.
10. Rwandan Genocide and Civil War (1994): Ethnic violence with catastrophic loss of life.
11. Iraq War (2003–2011): The U.S. invasion to remove Saddam Hussein and address alleged weapons of mass destruction.
12. Afghanistan War (2001–2021): A U.S.-led coalition effort against the Taliban and al-Qaeda following the 9/11 attacks.
13. Syrian Civil War (2011–present): A multifaceted conflict with regional and global powers involved.
14. Russo-Ukrainian War (2014–present): Escalated significantly with Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.
15. The Middle East (2022-present) while signs of a peace agreement are promising, peace is still fragile.

Since World War II, it is estimated that approximately 20-25 million people have died in wars and armed conflicts worldwide. These numbers include combatants and civilians killed in direct violence but exclude indirect deaths caused by war-related factors such as famine or disease.

“Wars begin in the Minds of Men”

The UNESCO Charter states, “Since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defenses of peace must be constructed.”

For over sixty years, the scientific community has issued vivid warnings about the catastrophic effects of thermonuclear war and has called for the abolition of these world-destroying weapons. Albert Einstein and Bertrand Russell mobilized the first coalition of preeminent scientists and scholars to address this existential threat.

With the shifting geopolitical landscape and the rise of terrorist nation-states, the strategy of nuclear deterrence is increasingly ineffective and outmoded. The threat of nuclear retaliation will not deter terrorist groups or suicide bombers, who are willing to sacrifice their own lives to wreak destruction upon their political and religious enemies—or terrorist organizations who possess no sovereign territory that could serve as a target for a retaliatory strike.

Today, every nation is vulnerable. Even the mightiest nations have fallen prey to escalating terrorist attacks. Conventional military approaches appear unsuited and unable to prevent such attacks. Diplomatic efforts face similar challenges. In a world torn by deep-seated hostilities and regional tensions, compromise and diplomatic solutions have been elusive. Hard-won negotiated settlements and ceasefires typically afford only fleeting relief. Paper treaties among rival factions have proven too fragile a basis for lasting peace.