A new study by Dr Tom Waldman, of Loughborough’s department of International, Relations, Politics and History, looks at how wars can begin to unravel when leaders and institutions stop acting for the wider public good and instead focus on protecting their own power, careers or reputations.
The paper highlights several contemporary examples, including allegations that Benjamin Netanyahu prolonged conflict for political survival, concerns about corruption affecting Ukraine’s resistance against Russia, and competing factions in Syria using war to pursue their own agendas.
It also discusses criticisms of Donald Trump and the role of personality politics during times of conflict, including allegations that national security concerns have at times been intertwined with personal and political interests.
In the paper, published in the journal International Affairs, Dr Waldman argues that wars depend on a shared sense of trust, sacrifice and common purpose.
When that ‘moral economy’ breaks down, military strategy can collapse from within.
“Not all self-interested behaviour is corrosive,” said Dr Waldman. “It can even aid strategy if individuals and organisations have ‘skin in the game’.
“Ego can spur acts of heroism and ambition can often best be served by working assiduously toward collective goals.
“And, conversely, even selfless actors can cause problems – such as those who override orders believing they know a sure route to victory and pursue actions outside agreed bounds.
“This behaviour can cause serious headaches for senior command.”
He added: "The challenge is not to banish self-interest from strategy – that would be impossible. The real task is to channel both selfish and selfless impulses in ways that serve collective goals.
“Incentive structures or harsh discipline can only go so far when people cease to believe that sacrifices are being shared fairly or that leaders are serving the common good.”
Rather than seeing war as a purely rational or technical process, the research argues that stories, narratives and public belief are central to holding societies together during conflict.
The paper also warns that modern societies may struggle to sustain support for long and costly wars if people lose faith in leaders or no longer believe sacrifices are shared fairly.
The research focuses on strategy, war and international security, particularly the political and human factors that shape modern conflict.
Read the full paper: Strategic saints and sinners: the moral economy of war and the power of narrative
ENDS