War as disease: biomedical metaphors in prevention discourse

Previous research has examined biomedical metaphors in discourses on military intervention, counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism. Starting from the observation that such also occur contemporary conflict prevention discourse, this article inquires into their intellectual origins implications for understanding of war prevention. Drawing archival analysis, it finds they manifest two ways discourse. In cataclysmic notion, is likened to an epidemic or plague. This metaphor was popularised by Christian pacifists 19th century carried forth 20th-century documents. The more recent risk factor notion couched terms enabling conditions threats body politic. By engaging imagery immunity public health, draws parallels between social political organisation functions body. argues while both notions discourse are firmly rooted modernist thinking, legacy manifests differently. associates disease with barbarism thus paints as a civilisational objective. contrary, represents technico-scientific problem shifts focus towards governing controlling through knowledge technology. Furthermore, converge idea politic be protected implicit assumption world order which war-as-disease temporary deviation ‘healthy norm’, peace-as-health desired default state affairs.