Özet:

This article deals with the philosophical contributions to the discourses on war and peace. In particular it examines the influence of market liberalism and Marxist socialism. It approaches that topic from a historical perspective, asking how philosophy contributed to nationalist and authoritarian discourses in Europe just prior to World War I and II. The aim is to prompt reflection on how antagonistic theoretical concepts – particularly market liberalism and Marxist socialism – affect acts of war and peace and to deepen critical awareness of these concepts in current debates on contemporary problems concerning political polarization and conflict. My approach strongly argues against fatalist conceptions in philosophy which support irreconcilable political attitudes on matters concerning the political economy of a country. Instead, it argues in favour of a perspective elaborated by Karl Polanyi which assumes that free markets need to be embedded in democratic structures and generous welfare states if (social) peace is not to be endangered. Therefore, it should rather be read as a general argument on the influence of fatalist philosophical concepts on political discourses, not as a detailed historical analysis or a comprehensive philosophical overview.

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