The space-research substitute appears to meet both major criteria, and should be
examined in greater detail, especially in respect to its probable effects on other
war functions. "Elaborate inspection" schemes, although superficially attractive,
are inconsistent with the basic premise of a transition to peace. The "unarmed
forces" variant, logistically similar, is subject to the same functional criticism as
the general social-welfare model.
POLITICAL. Like the inspection-scheme surrogates, proposals for
plenipotentiary international police are inherently incompatible with the ending
of the war system. The "unarmed forces" variant, amended to include unlimited
powers of economic sanction, might conceivably be expanded to constitute a
credible external menace. Development of an acceptable threat from "outer
space," presumably in conjunction with a space-research surrogate for economic
control, appears unpromising in terms of credibility. The environmental-
pollution model does not seem sufficiently responsive to immediate social
control, except through arbitrary acceleration of current pollution trends; this in
turn raises questions of political acceptability. New, less regressive, approaches
to the creation of fictitious global "enemies" invite further investigation.
SOCIOLOGICAL: CONTROL FUNCTION. Although the various substitutes
proposed for this function that are modeled roughly on the Peace Corps appear
grossly inadequate in potential scope, they should not be ruled out without
further study. Slavery, in a technologically modern and conceptually
euphemized form, may prove a more efficient and flexible institution in this
area. MOTIVATIONAL FUNCTION. Although none of the proposed substitutes
for war as the guarantor of social allegiance can be dismissed out of hand, each
presents serious and special difficulties. Intensified environmental threats may
raise ecological dangers; mythmaking dissociated from tar may no longer be
politically feasible; purposeful blood games and rituals can far more readily be
devised than implemented. An institution combining this function with the
preceding one, based on, but not necessarily imitative of, the precedent of
organized ethnic repression, warrants careful consideration.
ECOLOGICAL. The only apparent problem in the application of an adequate
eugenic substitute for war is that of timing; it cannot be effectuated until the
transition to peace has been completed, which involved a serious temporary risk
of ecological failure.
CULTURAL. No plausible substitute for this function of war has yet been
proposed. It may be, however, that a basic cultural value-determinant is not
necessary to the survival of a stable society. SCIENTIFIC. The same might be
said for the function of war as the prime mover of the search for knowledge.
examined in greater detail, especially in respect to its probable effects on other
war functions. "Elaborate inspection" schemes, although superficially attractive,
are inconsistent with the basic premise of a transition to peace. The "unarmed
forces" variant, logistically similar, is subject to the same functional criticism as
the general social-welfare model.
POLITICAL. Like the inspection-scheme surrogates, proposals for
plenipotentiary international police are inherently incompatible with the ending
of the war system. The "unarmed forces" variant, amended to include unlimited
powers of economic sanction, might conceivably be expanded to constitute a
credible external menace. Development of an acceptable threat from "outer
space," presumably in conjunction with a space-research surrogate for economic
control, appears unpromising in terms of credibility. The environmental-
pollution model does not seem sufficiently responsive to immediate social
control, except through arbitrary acceleration of current pollution trends; this in
turn raises questions of political acceptability. New, less regressive, approaches
to the creation of fictitious global "enemies" invite further investigation.
SOCIOLOGICAL: CONTROL FUNCTION. Although the various substitutes
proposed for this function that are modeled roughly on the Peace Corps appear
grossly inadequate in potential scope, they should not be ruled out without
further study. Slavery, in a technologically modern and conceptually
euphemized form, may prove a more efficient and flexible institution in this
area. MOTIVATIONAL FUNCTION. Although none of the proposed substitutes
for war as the guarantor of social allegiance can be dismissed out of hand, each
presents serious and special difficulties. Intensified environmental threats may
raise ecological dangers; mythmaking dissociated from tar may no longer be
politically feasible; purposeful blood games and rituals can far more readily be
devised than implemented. An institution combining this function with the
preceding one, based on, but not necessarily imitative of, the precedent of
organized ethnic repression, warrants careful consideration.
ECOLOGICAL. The only apparent problem in the application of an adequate
eugenic substitute for war is that of timing; it cannot be effectuated until the
transition to peace has been completed, which involved a serious temporary risk
of ecological failure.
CULTURAL. No plausible substitute for this function of war has yet been
proposed. It may be, however, that a basic cultural value-determinant is not
necessary to the survival of a stable society. SCIENTIFIC. The same might be
said for the function of war as the prime mover of the search for knowledge.
