War—What For?

The author argues that modern warfare functions to protect and extend class-based exploitation, presenting a sharp critique of industrial capitalism and the political institutions that glorify or profit from conflict. Chapters examine what war is, its human and financial costs, the suffering and betrayal of enlisted workers, and the role of propaganda and legal systems in maintaining consent. The book traces working-class history, interprets war as class struggle, and catalogs abuses—insanity, suicide, and economic loss—experienced by soldiers and families. It closes with practical calls for workers' organization, political action, and reading recommendations intended to awaken class consciousness and promote nonviolent collective resistance.