A Commitment to Ethical Conflict Studies
Introducing the Conflict Studies Ethical Commitment Statement
The students were thrilled to be out of the classroom and learning about history in the fresh, spring air. I was wearing the uniform of a soldier who fought in the First World War, and it was my job to take these Grade 7 kids through a recreated trench line.
We began at the entrance of the exhibit and I went over what we were going to experience, the massive scale that was the First World War on the Western Front, and how I wanted everyone to enjoy their time but remember that this was a deadly reality for those who experienced it. As we made our way through various areas of the trench, things stayed lively. Questions, comments, smiles, laughs. But then we came to the end of the tour at the front line.
I lined them up in two rows and said: “These are the two waves of attack. The first wave will go over on my whistle, the second will go ten seconds later.” The students were still quite anxious to participate and some even grabbed onto the ladder that they would take “over the top.” But this is when I always made the reality set in:
All of you in the first wave, turn and look at those in the second. You joined up together. You went to class together. You shared meals with each other in this rat-infested trench. And now you’re going to be separated in this attack. Will you survive? How about your friend? When the firing starts and you hear the cries for help, is that your friend out there? Will this be the last seconds that you are together?
Tears started to well up in a few eyes. My point was made. War is not a game. There are lives lost, hopes shattered, dreams make way for nightmares. The experience meant something to a few because before we parted, some students came up and shook my hand and said, “Thank you.” A few students who went on to Grade 8 somehow managed to come back the next year to experience it all over again with the Grade 7 kids!
Throughout history, war has been framed in heroic narratives. We can all acknowledge that courage in the face of conflict is something that should be discussed, even admired. However, the romanticized manner in which some choose to speak of war obscures the scope of devastation, suffering, and loss that the event inevitably brings with it.
When war is shaped in this manner, it opens the door to the justification of violence rather than critically examining why the event occurred and how it impacted those involved. Studying and discussing violence without glorifying it is an ethical obligation. Research must reinforce the idea that we should honour those who experienced and were affected by conflict while reinforcing the fact that peace is always the preferable option.
Keeping this in mind, I want to introduce you to a statement that I’m calling the Conflict Studies Ethical Commitment. This is a formal acknowledgment that can be adopted by scholars, educators, docents, and others who believe that we must be responsible with words and deeds associated with conflict studies.
As a conflict scholar, my work is grounded in critical examination, not reverence. Scholarship on war must never serve as an endorsement but rather as a critical study of its profound impact on nations, societies, and the individuals who endure its consequences. War should never be celebrated or idealized - it represents the collapse of diplomacy, the arrogance of ignorance, and the cause of immeasurable pain. I study conflict to deepen our understanding of its causes and to contribute to a future where war is seen as the last and most regrettable option. In remembering those who have served, I commit to honouring their sacrifices by advocating for a future where peace is pursued with wisdom, knowledge, and unwavering resolve.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Whether you teach military history, research conflict resolution, or simply engage with discussions on war, I invite you to incorporate this statement into your work. If you believe that war should be studied and not celebrated, help spread the Conflict Studies Ethical Commitment in your classroom, in discussions, and in research.