Why do people fight wars

At the moment the world seems to be especially ridden with conflict - it’s an opportune moment to reflect on why human beings seem to be unable to stop fighting wars.

In most cases wars are initiated by governments, not by populations. And, most of the time, they are the result of disputes over resources and land, or of a government’s desire to increase its influence and power. However, looking back over the history of warfare, what is most striking is how willing most people have been to fight in waars, or at least to support them.