ABSTRACT
This chapter argues that the immediate causes of war lie in the alienated relationships that are endemic in our civilization. These causes are equally present in the smallest unit of sociation—the family system—and in the relations between nations. The chapter outlines a theory that describes how alienation and unacknowledged shame produce wars. It shows that parallels between the communication tactics and emotion that occur in families and in relations between nations. The chapter discusses the possibility of studying fear and anxiety as causes of conflict. John Stoessinger based his core argument on an analysis of some of the discourse that took place among Germany, Russia, and England immediately prior to the onset of the war. Such an approach makes possible a part/whole analysis of social systems since it offers data at both the level of individuals and of groups.
