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War or Peace, Which do countries choose, and why?

Approximately 194 countries exist in the world today. This does not include all the territories or colonies that are governed by these countries. All but a few of these countries are members of the United Nations. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's World PopClock Projection, there are approximately 6,782,240,269 people residing in these countries. The majority of these world citizens seek to live in peace. Then why, with the majority of countries and people of the world seeking peace, do countries go to war?

In the past, the human race had no choice but to use violence in order to survive. Primitive mankind had to compete with other species for food, shelter, and territory. Back then, the human brain was not much different from that of the other species. Thus, human beings did not possess conscious self-awareness yet.

However, about 3,500 years ago, humans evolved a different type of brain. The newer type of brain gave human beings the capacity for conscious self-awareness. It also gave mankind the ability to utilize verbal languages, which some scientists believe humans started doing about 100,000 years ago. Humanity then utilized verbal communication and co-operation to establish communities.

As civilization spread out, these communication skills became less effective. Separate countries, languages, customs, and religious beliefs were established. Different cultures, ethnic groups, and societies were formed. As time passed by, people started concentrating on all the differences between themselves and others.

This focus on differences has created fear, egotism, hatred, prejudice, and bigotry. People became afraid of each other. Each country's citizens began to think that their own way of living was the only "right" way to live, and that made them superior to everyone that lived differently. Conflicts arose from people trying to force each other into living life the "right" way.

Moreover, as each community expanded, more conflicts arose over who the resources belonged to. Wars were fought in order to either gain or protect food, shelter, wealth, and territory. Humans reverted back to their primitive instincts when it came to competing for survival. Violence was chosen as the best way to obtain resources, leading to the expression that "might makes it right," and its accompanying philosophy.

A search of human history also demonstrates that every great nation and civilization was established by first using

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