Centenary of Beginning of First World War – High Time for a Ban on Armaments Exports
Regarding the centenary of the beginning of the First World War and the lessons learned for current conflicts, Chair of DIE LINKE, Katja Kipping, declares:
Today, at the eve of the centenary of the beginning of the First World War we look at a world where war has become again a common means of politics. For a long time it is not the „Ultima Irratio“ anymore, as Willy Brandt once coined war.
The wars in Ukraine, Gaza, Syria – to name only three of the current ones – lead to humanitarian catastrophes. They dangerously remind of the world 100 years ago, when major powers – with Germany leading the way – believed to be able to divide the world among them and thereby let humanity into a great catastrophe.
That’s why it is important to recall today that wars then as well as today are primarily conducted out of economic and geostrategic reasons and not for allegedly noble motifs like human rights. That’s why it is today more important than ever to remember the words of Willy Brandt.
War is no means of politics. Politics bank on negotiations and collective international organisation such as the UN or the OSCE; war solely banks on the right of the militarily stronger. But instead of strengthening international law and international organisations they are increasingly undermined. All great blocs and countries have their share in this: the U.S., Russia, but also Germany who – by wars and annexations against international law - replace the power of law with the law of the jungle.
To remember the past requires the readiness to learn from events that occured long ago. And this means to clearly say No to war and arms exports.