Aggression as Instinct

Political scientists often argue that by its very nature, the modern bureaucratic state engenders war. They believe that man's inherent aggression and competitiveness has been increased by political systems which thrive on conflict in order to express their hegemony.2

Of course, mankind has been engaged in warfare for as long as recorded history documents. Psychologically, scholars such as Sigmund Freud believed that humans are born violent, while others, Carl G. Jung for instance, have shown that violent expressions within society are often mirrored within the psyche itself.3

Because war is such an integral part of the contemporary world, this paper will discuss the experience of war from the perspective of a national politician, and average citizen, and the President of the United States. To conclude the work, the paper will synthesize common attitudes about warfare and ask some pertinent questions about the future of man's aggressive behaviors.

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also bear the burden of war. One positive aspect, for example during the years of World War II, was that munitions and other war needs necessitated the increase of employment in the United States. Coupled with this, however, were new and different situations faced by women and minorities. Women found themselves working in careers that had previously been unavailable to them, minorities found jobs in areas that had been historically closed. After the war, though, many of the returning soldiers again needed work and various social problems were engendered with the resulting labor conflict. In this sense, then, the impact of the war on the common citizen is again multifarious  on one hand the emotional impact of the war may very well be tragic, while the economic stimulation welcome, coupled with various shortages and rationing.8 One should also note that the war may impact negatively on the common citizen if the social fabric is unprepared or cynical about the conflict. For example, during the late 1960s and early 1970s, a tremendous social flux took place within the social fabric of America over U.S. participation in the Vietnam War. Protests, demonstrations, and riots all had serious impact on the average American in most
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Approximate Word count = 1814
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page)

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