War rhetoric is used by leaders to convince citizens of the need for conflict, often by presenting the enemy as a threat, exaggerating evidence, and fomenting nationalism. Critics are marginalized and repetition is key to gaining support.
When Roman Senator Cato the Elder wanted Rome to declare war on the North African state of Carthage, he included the phrase “Carthage must be destroyed” in all of his speeches. This was typical of war rhetoric, the persuasive methods by which leaders who want to go to war convince both other leaders and the nation’s citizens of the need for conflict. These may include presenting a country as an imminent threat to the nation, accusing those who oppose war of acting against the nation’s interests, and frequently repeating the necessity of war.
War rhetoric focuses on a reason why a nation must go to war against another country. This could be that the enemy country poses a direct military threat to the nation, that the country is helping those who wish to harm the nation and its people, or that the country is harming the economic interests of the nation. Individuals who want to build support for going to war among a nation’s citizens will typically cite the country’s current actions, as well as any wrongs the country has done to the nation in the recent or distant past, as evidence for their claims. In wartime rhetoric, such evidence is often exaggerated or fictitious.
Leaders who engage in war rhetoric often point out that their nation’s military is more capable than that of the enemy country. This generally has the effect of fomenting nationalism, the belief that one’s country is better than other countries, among its citizens. Creating this feeling of superiority over the other country can lead people to believe that their victory in the conflict is a certainty and ease concerns about the potential costs of war.
War advocates usually make rhetorical steps to marginalize or discredit critics who are against their nation initiating a conflict. This commonly takes the form of attacks on the patriotism or personal courage of those individuals. These supporters may also portray opposition to war as harming one’s own nation and aiding the enemy country. Exposing the opposition in this light usually motivates citizens to support the war to demonstrate their patriotism.
Repetition is a key component of war rhetoric. Leaders trying to get their nation to go to war often repeat their claims about the need for conflict to citizens through a variety of media. These may include speeches, newspaper opinion pieces, and interviews on radio or television programs. The more often these individuals repeat their claims, the more likely people are to accept the claims and support a declaration of war.
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