War is spreading like a plague across the globe. From the brutal war in Ukraine to the genocide in Gaza, from the often overlooked conflicts in Sudan and the Congo to the rising tensions in the South China Sea, the world seems to be barreling towards violence and destruction.
Meanwhile, arms manufacturers laugh all the way to the bank as the western imperialists increase military spending to its highest point since WWII.
It seems like the world has gone mad. But why is this happening?
Imperialism: A product of capitalism
Lenin, in his seminal work Imperialism, the Highest Stage of Capitalism, laid bare the economic foundations of modern war. Capitalism, once a system of competitive free markets, has long since given way to giant monopolies which control large swaths of the economy. In all countries, just a few corporations control entire industries.
In Canada, this reality is stark:
- Five banks dominate finance
- A handful of companies control the mining industry
- Four telecom giants monopolize communications
- Three oil barons control oil and gas
- Three corporations control the media
All across the world, finance capital—the fusion of banking and industrial monopolies—rules supreme. Having already dominated the market and maximized profits at home, finance capital seeks sources of profit abroad.
The situation created is one in which a small number of imperialist nations suck wealth out of the other countries of the world. According to an Oxfam report, countries in the Global North control 69 per cent of global wealth, despite making up just 21 per cent of the global population.
And Canada is part of the western imperialist alliance, with Canadian capitalists benefiting from this transference of wealth. As Oxfam reported, “In Canada, the richest 1 percent were paid $7.2 million per day from the Global South through the financial system in 2023.” And that’s just banking. In 2023, Canadian companies had $220 billion in mining assets abroad—two thirds of all Canadian mining assets.
From this search for sources of profit abroad, war and conflict arise. Finance capital uses its dominance of the state, and—through it—diplomatic and military strength, to secure markets, resources, and cheap labour in other countries.
War becomes a necessary tool of economic policy. In the words of famous Prussian military theorist, Carl von Clausewitz, “War is the continuation of politics by other means.” Complementing this, Lenin explained that “politics is a concentrated expression of economics.”
The end of the old world order
With the era of U.S. hegemony crumbling, there is a realignment taking place. No longer able to force their will on the world unilaterally, the American ruling class now faces major rivals. The economic powerhouse of China and the military might of Russia are challenging the unipolar dominance of American capital on the global stage.
And the Canadian ruling class, which has long benefited from being the junior partner of American imperialism, is now losing out in the struggles between major powers. For example, multiple countries in West Africa have kicked out France and moved closer to Russia. As a result, Canadian mining companies that have interests in the region are losing out. Unsurprisingly the government of Mali, which has recently aligned with Russia, has seized a mine from Canadian mining giant Barrick Gold. Similarly, Burkina Faso has nationalized two formerly Canadian-owned mines.
Long gone are the days in which Canadian companies could profit safely under the aegis of western imperialism and reap the rewards unchallenged.
We have entered a new era, reminiscent of the early 20th century—a time where competing capitalist powers clashed for world dominance, producing the First and Second World Wars.
But the ruling class knows no other way. After decades of talking about the value of life, national sovereignty, and human rights, the imperialist powers are showing their true faces, fighting over the world like wolves over a carcass. The policy of each country is dictated by their desire to protect the interests of their bourgeoisie.
The massive militarization in the west, far from being “defensive” as it is often described, is an offensive measure necessary to hold onto their markets, trade routes, access to resources, and cheap labour.
War is Profitable
And while for the workers and poor war means suffering, for the capitalist class it means obscene profits. The so-called “defence” industry is a racket, a parasitic sector that thrives on human suffering.
Huge defence contractors like Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, and General Dynamics rake in hundreds of billions every time there is a war. The U.S. has spent $14 trillion on war since 2001—creating a bonanza of endless profits for these merchants of death.
Abby Martin, the investigative journalist, put it bluntly: “Defense contractors always win, regardless of the outcome.”
And this isn’t simply an American phenomenon.
The myth of “Canada the peacekeeper” is just that—a myth. Canada is the 15th largest military spender in the world, shelling out $700 per capita each year on war machinery—more than many European powers. And this will increase massively in the years to come.
And now there is a huge militaristic war drive, with all western imperialist countries increasing military spending to 5 per cent of GDP. For example, Germany is increasing military spending from 92 billion euros to 162 billion euros. This totals a whopping $649 billion euros over the next 5 years.
And things are no different in Canada with Carney increasing military spending to five per cent of GDP, from $41 billion to an eye-watering $150 billion a year!
Money that could be spent improving the lives of workers in Canada is instead being spent to destroy the lives of workers abroad. For comparison, the federal funding for healthcare was just $52 billion in 2024.
And defense contractors are reaping the benefits. Already companies like Irving Shipbuilding and Canadian Aviation Electronics Inc. have received $8 billion and $1.7 billion dollar military contracts respectively. Unsurprisingly, defense stocks in Canada have risen by nearly 40 per cent in the past year alone.
In the words of Lenin, “War is a “terrible” thing? Yes. But it is a terribly profitable thing.”
To end war, end capitalism!
Reformists and liberals cry crocodile tears about the horrors of war, calling for “diplomacy” or “restraint.” But as we have seen with the genocide in Gaza or the war in Ukraine, these pleas are absolutely futile. Finance capital does not answer to humanitarian pleas, only to cold, hard material interests. War is not simply a bad policy—it is a systemic necessity for capitalism.
As long as the economy is ruled by capitalist monopolies, as long as the state serves the interests of finance capital, the horrors of war will continue. The only solution is to go to the root of the problem and smash the system that breeds war.
The ruling class has no solutions to the problems facing humanity today. These narrow-minded, greedy parasites can only drag us down into barbarism.
Only the working class can throw a wrench into the gears of the imperialist machine. Only the working class can put an end to this imperialist nightmare and usher in an epoch of peace between peoples.
