Why World War III May Be Inevitable

As unsettling as it is to consider, there are reasons why World War III might seem inevitable:

  1. Historical Cycles of Conflict:

    • History shows that peace is often followed by war. For example, the Napoleonic Wars were followed by a century of relative peace in Europe before World War I broke out. This pattern suggests that long periods of stability may eventually give way to large-scale conflict.

  2. Unresolved Inequalities:

    • Economic disparities between nations remain stark. The World Bank reports that nearly 700 million people live in extreme poverty, while the richest 1% of the global population controls more than 40% of the world’s wealth. Such disparities can create resentment and instability, leading to conflict.

  3. Lack of Global Unity:

    • Despite globalisation, humanity remains fragmented. The failure to address crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic through coordinated global efforts highlights the limitations of current systems of international cooperation.

While these factors may suggest inevitability, they also present an opportunity for reflection. The question remains: can humanity break this cycle of violence?