War-weariness is the public or political disapproval of the continuation of a prolonged conflict or war. The causes normally involve the intensity of casualties—financial, civilian, and military. It also occurs when a belligerent has the ability to leave the conflict easily but continues to stay. War-weariness normally leads to a distrust in government or military leadership and can spark protest and anti-war movements. It can also be fueled when a belligerent is found guilty of war crimes, which can create domestic and international backlash. Rates of enlistment and the morale of the armed forces are often affected by war-weariness.
It is relevant for war initiation but less so for war involvement.
In The Causes of War, Australian historian Geoffrey Blainey argues, "If war-weariness was one of the spokes in Mr. Neville Chamberlain's umbrella of appeasement, and if it was one of the Anglo-French attitudes which fed Hitler's confidence, it cannot be called a peaceful influence". Even so, Blainey concludes, "War-weariness in a nation often promotes peace and war-fever promotes war, but there have been notable instances where war-weariness promoted war".
War-weariness is less likely to appear in military dictatorships, especially those with heavy propaganda and censorship. According to Immanuel Kant, democratic nations have a better chance of having unpopular news of the war reach the masses, which increases their chance and level of war-weariness.
Historical examples Opposition to World War I 1917 French Army mutinies Kiel mutiny and German revolution of 1918–1919 Opposition to World War II German resistance to Nazism Japanese People's Anti-war Alliance Mutinies during WWII Russian Civil War Kronstadt rebellion Cold War Opposition to the Vietnam War War on terror Opposition to the Iraq War Opposition to the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)
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de:Kriegsmüdigkeit