Modernity, boredom, and war: a suggestive essay
The quest for perpetual peace is a modern phenomenon, associated with a progressive view of history which emerged only in the Enlightenment. In addition, boredom — a feeling of ennui associated with a loss of the ability to act — is a fundamental mood of the modern age. Modern societies are thus, si...
| Veröffentlicht in: | Review of International Studies. - Cambridge University Press. - 37(2011), 4, Seite 1775-1792 |
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| Format: | Online-Aufsatz |
| Sprache: | English |
| Veröffentlicht: |
2011
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| Zugriff auf das übergeordnete Werk: | Review of International Studies |
| Schlagworte: | Behavioral sciences Political science History |
| Zusammenfassung: | The quest for perpetual peace is a modern phenomenon, associated with a progressive view of history which emerged only in the Enlightenment. In addition, boredom — a feeling of ennui associated with a loss of the ability to act — is a fundamental mood of the modern age. Modern societies are thus, simultaneously, becoming more peaceful and their inhabitants are becoming more bored. As a means of overcoming our boredom, we are increasingly fascinated by violence, and war is glorified as a means of restoring our ability to act. Empirical illustrations of this thesis are drawn from World War I and from the Bush administration's 'global War on Terror'. |
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| ISSN: | 14699044 |