Deaths, destitution due to wars, terrorism result of well-planned strategies of ruling, and non-ruling elites

By Bhabani Shankar Nayak

In an age marked by hyper-imperialism, jingoistic capitalism, and digital feudalism, the death toll from territorial wars, political, religious, and resource-based conflicts, as well as terrorism, continues to rise across the globe. It is estimated that more than 187 million people have died as a result of war during the 20th and 21st centuries. According to a 2023 study by the Institute for Economics & Peace, terrorism caused 8,352 deaths—an increase of 22 percent compared to the previous year. The Global Terrorism Index reports reveal a significant rise in deaths caused by terrorism. Over the past decade, approximately 24,000 people have died each year due to terrorist attacks.

The deaths and destitution caused by wars and terrorism are not accidents, but the result of well-planned and executed strategies. Both ruling and non-ruling elites often design and perpetuate these crises—promoting wars and terrorism to destabilise societies, lives, livelihoods and cultivate a culture of fear and shock. This strategy serves to domesticate populations along reactionary lines, ultimately undermining peace, democracy, and genuine citizenship. The entrenchment of this culture of perpetual instability, death, and destitution erodes the very conditions necessary for nurturing progressive, radical consciousness—consciousness rooted in the ideals of equality, justice, peace, and shared prosperity.

Yet critical questions remain: Who dies in these wars and conflicts? Who are the people turned into refugees and rendered destitute in their own homelands? Whose lives are sacrificed in the name of war? Who pays the ultimate price in the cycles of violence and terrorism? And who are the fallen souls—celebrated briefly as heroes, only to be forgotten in the corridors of public memory? War heroes become numbers in the excel sheets of ruling classes and photographs and paintings in their museums.

Most of the idealistic, brave, and young individuals who lose their lives in wars and acts of terrorism come from poor, working class backgrounds and marginalised communities. An analysis of the Global Terrorism Index reports reveals that deaths and displacement resulting from war and terrorism shows that South Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, and North Africa accounted for 94 percent of terrorism-related deaths in 2023. A similarly high number of casualties due to war can also be observed in these regions. Whether as combatants or civilian victims, those who die are overwhelmingly from poor, working-class backgrounds.

The slaughterhouse of wars, conflicts, and terrorism systematically sacrifices the most idealistic and courageous youth from the working class—often in the name of territorial integrity of nation-states, purity of religion, and superiority of cultural identity. This violence serves to eliminate any potential challenge to the dominance of both ruling and non-ruling elites, helping to preserve their control over people and hegemony over resources. No progressive transformation is possible without the idealism and active participation of young people. So, the social, political, economic, and religious status quo is upheld by maiming, killing, and corrupting these youth—poisoning their scientific consciousness with the toxic ideologies of reactionary nationalism, cultural and religious dogma. Wars and terrorism not only destroy the lives and livelihoods of the working masses but also turn them into refugees—homeless and destitute in their own lands.

The real winners of war and terrorism are the ruling and non-ruling elites, European and American arms traders, defence industries and corporate classes, while the working-class, idealistic youth pay the ultimate price—regardless of whether the war ends in victory or defeat. Bourgeois wars serve to sustain existing systems of inequality and exploitation. Even when an idealistic youth survives war, conflict, or terrorism, they often return to a society that continues to suppress their potential and silence their dissent.

Class struggles have the potential to empower and emancipate the working classes, whereas bourgeois wars, conflicts, and acts of terrorism serve only to undermine and oppress them. A global struggle against wars, conflicts, and terrorism is essential for the survival of humanity and the planet in the face of relentless corporate plunder. Therefore, opposing wars and terrorism is essential for the emancipation of the working class and the survival of the most idealistic, talented, and courageous young people—who are vital to building a peaceful and prosperous society.

Comments

Modi’s Israel visit strengthened Pakistan’s hand in US–Iran truce: Ex-Indian diplomat

By Jag Jivan M. K. Bhadrakumar , a career diplomat with three decades of service in postings across the former Soviet Union, Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Germany, and Turkey, has warned that the current truce in the US–Iran war is “fragile and ridden with contradictions.” Writing in his blog India Punchline , Bhadrakumar argues that while Pakistan has emerged as a surprising broker of dialogue, the durability of the ceasefire remains uncertain.

Manufacturing, services: India's low-skill, middle-skill labour remains underemployed

By Francis Kuriakose* The Indian economy was in a state of deceleration well before Covid-19 made its impact in early 2020. This can be inferred from the declining trends of four important macroeconomic variables that indicate the health of the economy in the last quarter of 2019.

Incarceration of Prof Saibaba 'revives' the question: What is crime, who is criminal?

By Kunal Pant* In 2016, a Supreme Court Judge asked the state of Maharashtra, “Do you want to extract a pound of flesh?” The statement was directed against the state for contesting the bail plea of Delhi University Professor GN Saibaba. Saibaba was arrested in 2014, a justification for which was to prevent him from committing what the police called “anti-national activities.”

Why Indo-Pak relations have been on 'knife’s edge' , hostilities may remain for long

By Utkarsh Bajpai* The past few decades have seen strides being made in all aspects of life – from sticks and stones to weaponry. The extreme case of this phenomenon has been nuclear weapons. The menace caused by nuclear weapons in the past is unforgettable. Images of Hiroshima and Nagasaki from 1945 come to mind, after the United States dropped two atomic bombs on the cities.

Food security? Gujarat govt puts more than 5 lakh ration cards in the 'silent' category

By Pankti Jog* A new statistical report uploaded by the Gujarat government on the national food security portal shows that ensuring food security for the marginalized community is still not a priority of the state. The statistical report, uploaded on December 24, highlights many weaknesses in implementing the National Food Security Act (NFSA) in state.

The soundtrack of resistance: How 'Sada Sada Ya Nabi' is fueling the Iran war

By Syed Ali Mujtaba* The Persian track “ Sada Sada Ya Nabi ye ” by Hossein Sotoodeh has taken the world by storm. This viral media has cut across linguistic barriers to achieve cult status, reaching over 10 million views. The electrifying music and passionate rendition by the Iranian singer have resonated across the globe, particularly as the high-intensity military conflict involving Iran entered its second month in March 2026.

Lata Mangeshkar, a Dalit from Devdasi family, 'refused to sing a song' about Ambedkar

By Pramod Ranjan* An artist is known and respected for her art. But she is equally, or even more so known and respected for her social concerns. An artist's social concerns or in other words, her worldview, give a direction and purpose to her art. History remembers only such artists whose social concerns are deep, reasoned and of durable importance. Lata Mangeshkar (28 September 1929 – 6 February 2022) was a celebrated playback singer of the Hindi film industry. She was the uncrowned queen of Indian music for over seven decades. Her popularity was unmatched. Her songs were heard and admired not only in India but also in Pakistan, Bangladesh and many other South Asian countries. In this article, we will focus on her social concerns. Lata lived for 92 long years. Music ran in her blood. Her father also belonged to the world of music. Her two sisters, Asha Bhonsle and Usha Mangeshkar, are well-known singers. Lata might have been born in Indore but the blood of a famous Devdasi family...

'Batteries now cheap enough for solar to meet India's 90% demand': Expert quotes Ember study

By A Representative Shankar Sharma, Power & Climate Policy Analyst, has urged India’s top policymakers to reconsider the financial and ecological implications of the country’s energy transition strategy in light of recent global developments. In a letter dated April 10, 2026, addressed to the Union Ministers of Finance, Power, New & Renewable Energy, Environment, Forest & Climate Change, and the Vice Chair of NITI Aayog, with a copy to the Prime Minister, Sharma highlighted concerns over India’s ambitious plans for coal gasification and the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR).

Labour unrest in Manesar trigger tensions: Recently enacted labour codes blamed

By A Representative A civil rights coalition has expressed concern over recent developments in the industrial hub of Manesar in Haryana, where a series of labour actions and police responses have drawn attention. A statement, released by the Campaign Against State Repression (CASR), said it stood in solidarity with workers in IMT Manesar and other parts of the country, while also alleging instances of police excess during ongoing unrest.

Search This Blog