Causes of War Causes of War Causes of War in the Twentieth Century 1. This view holds that a driving force in wars are nations which hold enormous power and seek to use this power at every opportunity. To have power is to want to employ it and to be corrupted by it. The arrogance derives from the belief that to have power is to be able to do anything one wishes.
Power invokes right and justifies itself.
Career advancement and acceptability within the bureaucracy depend upon showing that you are not afraid to use this power or force. National security bureaucrats may at times purposefully mislead their superiors with lies or carefully constructed policy alternatives. This includes bureaucrats or advisors offering their leaders policy choices that the very framing of which determines their outcome. The loss of political power could also jeopardize domestic legislative programs, invite political attacks from extremist groups and run the risk of other powerful nations challenging the balance of power in the world. Imperialism Special interests groups maneuver nations into war.