The Pelicans’ Nest discussion

Our first Discussion Topic is based on the article "Is War Declining?" by Azar Gat at https://jstribune.com/azar-gat-is-war...

Looking forward to the read…

What do you all think of this article?

There is much to consider here, but one of his theses seems to be that preservation of more globalistic and economically liberal ideas is a necessary piece toward preserving the peace. Towards the end he points to China and Russia as potential goes because of their authoritarianism and conservatism (in the older sense) especially around trade and economics.

I know that there are those in the ASP who would challenge that thesis. Some of that critique gets at a real concern: the de-personalization caused by the current global economic milieu and the loss of traditional communities and the reduction of various spheres of life to mere servants in the service of homo economicus.

What is the communitarian's answer to Professor Gat? Is there such a thing as globalistic communitarianism; or, is there a way to preserve the best aspects of more traditional and localist ways of being while still reaping the peace dividend brought about by global economic systems?

I don't have a fully thought out answer, but tend to think that there are ways this can work that don't have to rely on old tried-and-failed ideas based in nationalism, ethnic division, and a geographically- limited populism. I admit, however, that most of the strategies I can think of in this regard are microeconomic individual choices (things like looking for certified fair trade products, forex) more than macro- and policy-based solutions.