Defining Modern Warfare
By Colin Stanley
In this 21st Century, warfare is ancient history in that the era of going to battlefields is long gone. In previous centuries, in the era of Vikings for instance, there were massive battlegrounds where swords and shields clamped and knocked out precious stones men of honor then wore in their swords and shields. There was pride in warfare in those hey days, regardless of the catastrophic casualties. In traditional African societies, the tragedy of was was recognized and warriors used to go for an extended healing period before they were integrated back in the society. War for the Africans was a life and death affair in that they took close to over three months for the healing rituals. It is in this manner that warfare could be considered a fair means of settling disputes, putting in mind that there was a time seasons used to be the foundation of social order and they were used to set ceremonies and other forms of social function in the then robust traditional African society.
Warfare in traditional African society brings to the table a debate on the possibilities of advantage of conflict. For instance, during a handover of power from one family to another, it is evident that conflict and friction proves to be effective in the end, in that there is a lasting solution to the issue. In our country Kenya for example, effective leadership ensures that the people enjoy their democracy in a positive capacity. In this time, democracy should be classified in terms of results of the purported group’s intention. It is in this effect that societies would appreciate good leadership thanks to the traditional African leadership setups.
For quite some time, elective posts have brought about conflict and friction in societies, a reason for instance, the Building Bridges Initiative (B.B.I) is in play in the Kenyan political scene. With such a new form of democracy, the judiciary and parliament should not be just a platform where unjust policies brew but it should bring in a table, chairs, and numerous cups of tea with an intent of delegating the proper governance of an African country. Warfare could have been used in our early traditional setups, but in the 21st century, dialogue is the way forward, agreeing to disagree, learning, and unlearning. In addition, there is a chance to spearhead an improved and well-detailed program of attaining a maximum productivity rate with avoidance of conflict and warfare among the African population in this century.
