War is already inherent in our society

Abstract

An intersubjective relationship is one in which one subject recognises the other as a «not me» or «another me». Upon the recognition of this difference, arrogance and the resulting power gap are removed, and control and management of the dominated «object» is eliminated – producing the prerequisites for any war. Connections that create a discourse of power require an axiom of guilt – the essential instrument to make power gaps, hierarchies, exploitation, and self-interest possible. The bearer of the guilt is deemed the scapegoat, who can now be legitimately ostracised or even killed. Groups and nations enable people to celebrate a symbiotic unity and consensus creating the differences to facilitate ostracization. New forms of lust arise, no longer a lust for difference, but rather one in which violence is inherent: The degradation of one is the ascent of another, which is experienced by the latter as power. The humiliation and conquering of others, goes beyond a lust for power as it is bound with the lust for the suffering and misery of others. The lust-filled moment of a voyeur is also violent toward themselves as the participation of the self is eliminated and lust experienced in the triumph of remaining unaffected. Domination is only made possible via a hierarchical gap and retaining control of desire. All of this can be defined as war. War is already inherent in our society.