Expanding beyond World War II to encourage peace education and deconstruct militarism

Abstract

How individuals interpret the justifications for historical war can have a large effect on how they see modern warfare (McCorkle, W. 2017; Harris 2008). In the social studies classroom, particularly in the U.S. context, so much of what educators focus on in regard to war are the events of World War II. This focus on the Second World War is understandable. However, it could also be dangerous in our pursuit of more peaceful and diplomatic solutions in the world today as it creates a narrative that war is justified, necessary, and a path towards a more just world. In the social studies classroom, educators should move the frame of war outside of the purview of World War II, as World War II in many ways is the anomaly of U.S. conflicts. If we can do this in the history course, we may be able to show students the times when war is often futile and counterproductive. We can use the frameworks of war such as the American Revolution, the War of 1812, the Mexican-American War, World War I, Vietnam, and the more recent wars in Afghanistan and Iraq to show how war is typically hostile to the goals of a more just and secure world.