Prof. Ivan Rizzi, chairman of the Institute of Advanced Policy and Strategic Studies, gave an exclusive interview to EIR, in which he, among other things, warned that the world seems to have forgotten the lessons of the Peace of Westphalia. Here is a short excerpt:
“The Peace of Westphalia, 1648, inaugurated modern Europe. Though distant, that treaty still speaks to us. Law confined within the borders of each country becomes international code, legitimate interests and advantages of different nation-states are recognized, the principle of non-interference—cuius regio eius religio—allows dialogue and exchanges. But it took 30 years of massacres to realize that no one would prevail and a bloodless Europe.
“Today three generations spared from war have only witnessed the evanescence of the spectacle of distant wars.
“Topicality can only be anti-tragical, the possibility that this conflict may affect our lives is removed with ease by de-emphasizing attention and apprehension.
“Are we bored with peace?
“Western administrations arrange co-belligerence in defense of Ukraine. The media agitate the multitudes. Preparations are made. Strategies and alliance systems are prepared. War industries that will replace mature industries are prepared. The game of antagonistic simulation that neglects the precautionary principle is prepared. The mobilization of sentiments is prepared. The outcome for the post-truth of a ‘just war’ is being prepared. Here again is ‘A terrible love of war’ evoked by James Hillman. The unconscious, for years humbled by triumphant digital acceleration, returns with its slow conscious grip.
“Historical memory has never worked. Wars of the past are no longer feared, nor peace is learned.
“If terminal warfare is posited as impossible, possible warfare—such as the current one—is not yet delegable to drones and the remote but demands men, exactly young men, our meager and very precious Generation Z and perhaps Y in case of forced replacement. They will be the ones to tremble first, to risk not-being (in Ukraine the number of military dead and wounded again exceeds that of civilians). Those who are bored with peace should take note.”
