Kapital Politik

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Conflict Resolution: Kapitalpolitik

Economics is often used as the motives of the state to intervene (although

biased interventions incorporated into the realm of Idealpolitik) or even war. But is it

always the economy? Surely depth analysis is reuired in answering these uestions!

because there are at least four kinds of motives underlying the state of their decision

to go to war or intervene in other countries. "s an e#ample of Iran$Ira war and

Eritrea$Ethiopia! the war showed the fear on both sides of the imposition of

government (Idealpolitik problem) or e#plicitly targeting its resources%.

&e will discuss about 'apitalpolitik'. It is an approach that allows us to see

the backdrop of a country at war or intervene in other countries. apitalpolitik

'blame' the economic motive as the main actor in the war or intervention done by the

state. It believes that the economic factor is a factor in inter$state conflict! but again

this can be uestioned but what is clear is the economic factor could be the reason and

a way out to solve the conflict between the states.

If e#plored deeper! war is not an economically profitable! no one wants to

build something and then destroyed because of the war. But the cold war had proven

that 'war' is beneficial! massive arms race make war into something profitable.

"ge changes occur as the rapid pace of globaliation! specifically in the

economic field. *ow when we talk about the economy could be interpreted as an

offensive act! one little word or action can be bad for relations. If viewed from the

broader conte#t there are two economic assets in the current era! those are oil and

transportation route+.

,or the oil problem! everyone must be sensitive if the oil price is rising. -hen

how is it in the international sphere? -he issue of the oil whether that the problem of

distribution! price fluctuation! or even scarcity not only affects developing countries

alone but affects the developed countries. -hat is why the issue of oil is said to be a

trigger for conflict. In addition! the transportation issue is not only an effect on the

economy! but also geopolitical issue/. &ho wore whose path0 if there is a country that

1 Peter Wallensteen. 2002. Understanding Confict Resolution. London: SagePublications, p. 114.

2 Ibid., p. 1203 Ibid4 Peter Wallensteen. Loc. cit


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closes the path of other countries would potentially be in conflict! because a trade

route is like the pulse of a nation. It could seek another path! but if other countries had

the same thoughts! future conflicts can arise again.

But in its development! again the involvement of 1capital2 problem in the

occurrence of a conflict is still uestionable! because it is theoretically unclear

whether good economic reason that an increase or decrease in growth as the

foundation of why is the conflict! so that the most appropriate uestion is how the

'capital' can involved or even become a source of conflict3.

Examples of Conflict: Iran and Iraq War

4ne e#ample of conflicts that could describe the apitalpolitik is Iran$Ira

war. Iran$Ira &ar! (%567$%566) was a prolonged military conflict between Iran and

Ira that occurred in the %567s. 4pen war began on September ++! %567! when Ira

invaded Iran8s armed forces west along the common border between the two

countries! though Ira claimed that the war had begun earlier that month! on

September /! when Iran shelled a border post. -he fighting ended with a ceasefire in

%566! although the return of normal diplomatic relations and the withdrawal does not

occur until the signing of a formal peace treaty on "ugust %9! %557.

-he root of this war lies in a number of territorial and political disputes

between Ira and Iran. Ira wants to dominate the oil$rich border region of Iran!

huestan region inhabited mostly by ethnic "rabs in which Ira seeks to e#tend

some form of sovereignty. Irai :resident! Saddam ;ussein! would like to reiterate his

country8s sovereignty over the Shatt al$8"rab edge! the river formed by the confluence

of the -igris and Euphrates that historically the border between the two countries 9.

Saddam also concerned over the Iranian Islamic revolutionary government efforts to

incite rebellion among groups of Irai$Shiite ma


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but failed to take the essential oil refining center of "badan! and in >ecember %567

the Irai attack stalled about 37$3 miles (67$%+7 km) in Iran after meeting resistance

suddenly powerful Iran. Iranian counterattack using revolutionary militia

(@evolutionary Auards) to increase the strength of the regular armed force Ira began

to give ground in %56%. -he first Iranian push Ira back across the arun @iver in Iran

and then recaptured horramshahr in %56+. ater that year Ira voluntarily withdraw

its troops from the entire territory of Iran were arrested and began searching for a

peace deal with Iran. But under the leadership of @uhollah homeini! who bore a

strong personal animosity against Saddam! Iran remains stubborn and continue the

war in an attempt to overthrow the Irai leader. Irai >efense solidified after troops

defending their own land! and the war settled into a stalemate with only static runs

inside and along the Irai border. Iran repeatedly launched an infantry attack using a

wave of attacks that consist mostly of conscripts trained and armed! but was arrested

by the electric air guns and more superior than Ira. -he two countries are involved in

air and missile attacks on towns sporadic each and military installations and oil. -hey

also attacked the oil tanker shipments respectively in the :ersian Aulf! and Iran

attacks in uwait and other Aulf countries tanker made the =nited States and some

&estern European countries put warships in the :ersian Aulf to ensure the flow of oil

to the world.

-he capacity of the two oil$e#porting countries have a very reduced many

times because of air strikes and closing the pipe! and the conseuent decline in

revenue and foreign currency income they result in programs of economic$

development of these countries is hampered. Ira war effort openly financed by Saudi

"rabia! uwait! and the neighboring "rab countries other and tacitly supported by the

=nited States and the Soviet =nion! while the main ally of Iran is Syria and ibya.

Ira continues to demand peace in the mid$%567s! but the international reputation

damaged by reports that they have made use of lethal chemical weapons against

Iranian forces. In the mid %567s! the military continues to run! but in "ugust %566

with the worsening economy of Iran and Ira on the battlefield advantage to force Iran

to accept the mediation of the =* ceasefire previously re

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Kapital Politik