Function of war

What is the Function of war?

 I will take a look at the role of war in international politics.

 In the modern international system, the functions of war, as a social practice, may
be considered from three perspectives: that of an individual state, that of the system of
states, and that of the society of states.

 From the point of view of an individual state, war has been an instrument of policy,
one of the means by which states objectives may be attained.

 From the point of view of the system of states, war has been the principle mechanism. It is war, in
this respect, that helps to determine whether particular states survive or are eliminated, whether they rise or decline.

 From the point of view of the society of states, war has a dual aspect.

 On the onehand, war is a manifestation of disorder, a threat of breakdown of the society of states
itself and of a return to a pre-society state of affairs where war of all against all prevails.
 On the other hand, war, as an instrument
of states policies and a basis determinant of the shape of the system, is a means that the
society of states employs to achieve its own purposes.

 In other words, war holds an ambiguous role from this perspective of being simultaneously the decisive threat to the society of states, and theinstrument of protecting it.