What Are the Roots of War?

In this episode of New Ideal Live, Elan Journo and Onkar Ghate discuss Ayn Rand’s analysis of the fundamental roots of war.

Among the topics covered:

• Why identifying the roots of war is a task for philosophy;
• Rand’s view that statist ideology is the fundamental root of war;
• How war stems from a statist regime’s war on its own citizens;
• Historical examples of why statist regimes need war to maintain power;
• Why Rand’s view challenges the view that capitalism and free trade lead to war;
• How Rand’s view contrasts with the view that “democracy” leads to peace;
• Why fundamental ideology and not the change in technology is the cause of war;
• The parallels between war and the “war on drugs”;
• Differing tribal dynamics of wars in different countries.

Mentioned in the discussion is Ayn Rand’s essay “The Roots of War.”

This podcast was recorded on May 26, 2021. Listen to the discussion below. Listen and subscribe from your mobile device on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or Stitcher. Watch archived podcasts here.

Podcast audio: