World War 1914 v1.5.0

World War I, also known as the First World War, commenced on July 28, 1914 and concluded on November 11, 1918. Widely referred to as the "Great War" by contemporaries, it involved several European nations, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire. The conflict extended beyond Europe, reaching the Middle East, Africa, and parts of Asia. With a staggering estimated death toll of 9 million combatants and over 5 million civilian casualties due to military occupation, bombardment, hunger, and disease, it stands as one of the most devastating conflicts in history.

The field of peace and conflict studies is an academic discipline that focuses on analyzing both violent and nonviolent behaviors in relation to social conflicts. Its aim is to comprehend the underlying mechanisms that contribute to a more desirable human condition. One specific branch of this discipline is peace studies, or irenology, which adopts an interdisciplinary approach to prevent, de-escalate, and resolve conflicts. In contrast, war studies, or polemology, directs its attention towards achieving victory in conflicts expeditiously. Various disciplines are incorporated into peace and conflict studies, including political science, geography, economics, psychology, sociology, international relations, history, anthropology, religious studies, gender studies, and others.

Pacifism can be rooted in moral principles (a deontological view) or pragmatism (a consequentialist view). Principled pacifism asserts that all forms of violent behavior are inappropriate responses to conflict and morally wrong. Pragmatic pacifism argues that the costs associated with war and interpersonal violence are so substantial that alternative methods for resolving disputes must be sought.