War is a Force That Gives Us Meaning

"This is one of my favourite books for explaining the emotional aspects of why people are drawn to violence. It looks at the addictive quality of war and terrorism. I have seen that, when they begin their careers, terrorists often believe that they are making the world a better place. But over time violence can become addictive, as Hedges makes clear. One mujahid even said to me, “I am as addicted to jihad as you are to writing!” War simplifies life. So does terrorism. There is an enemy. The enemy is evil, and we are good. There is a reason for living and all the ordinary confusion of life falls away. The adrenaline becomes addictive. Hedges talks about war providing a kind of high. He says, “War is an enticing elixir. It allows us to be noble.” That is so relevant to terrorism. Terrorists believe themselves to be noble, fighting for a higher cause. Later on they can become quite cynical but at the beginning they often see themselves as saints. There is this idea that violence with the aim of furthering some political or religious goal gives them dignity or nobility. What I love about this book is that Chris admits that even though he wasn’t serving as a soldier, he was not immune to the addiction. Those who serve in war zones – even if they aren’t fighting – can become addicted to war too. Hedges admits that it even happened to him."