Skip to main content
Donate to the 95 years appeal
War and racism are closely interwoven
Demonisation of ‘the enemy within,’ far-right hatred and abuse of migrants are the noxious symptoms of war fever, argues LINDSEY GERMAN
The “war on terror” has contributed to a great increase in racism. Its main consequence was the growth of Islamophobia, or hatred of Muslims. The war led to interventions in majority-Muslim countries — Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Syria, plus a constant state of tension with Iran.

HOW DO governments who want to wage war on another country win at least the acquiescence and at best active support of large sections of their own population for a process which is going to kill large numbers of people, injure and traumatise many more, and turn millions of people into refugees? 

One way is to suggest that the “enemy” population is somehow not like us, and that therefore the kinds of horror they face during war is less deserving of sympathy than it would be otherwise. 

Wars all too often become a source of racism as military domination leads to treating those on the other side as less than human. 

The 95th Anniversary Appeal
Support the Morning Star
You have reached the free limit.
Subscribe to continue reading.
Similar stories
Louise Raw speaks at conference
Features / 21 June 2025
21 June 2025

LYNNE WALSH reports from the Morning Star’s Race, Sex and Class Liberation conference last weekend, which discussed the dangers of incipient fascism and the spiralling drive to war

WE SHALL OVERCOME: Marchers display a huge word ‘PEACE’
Features / 21 February 2025
21 February 2025
VICTOR GROSSMAN reports, with a little chuckle, on how US readiness to work with Russia, not just on peace for Ukraine, has thrown a spanner into the German electoral machine
LOUD AND CLEAR: People take part in a Palestine solidarity r
Features / 24 December 2024
24 December 2024
From Storm Shadow missiles hitting Russia to support for the endless Gaza slaughter, the new Labour government has continued the years of Tory warmongering. The peace movement faces a crucial year ahead, writes LINDSEY GERMAN