War is more than a clash of nations. It is a market. A machine. A system meticulously engineered to generate profit, manipulate power, and reshape the world. In
WAR: The Greatest Business in History
, Borna Ahadi strips away the patriotic veneer and diplomatic justifications to expose the brutal truth: conflict is currency.
From the trenches of World War I to the deserts of Iraq, from the arms bazaars of Cold War superpowers to the digital battlefield of the 21st century, this book takes readers on an unflinching journey through the economy of violence. Ahadi explores how empires, corporations, financial institutions, and intelligence agencies have all profited-often immeasurably-from the bloodshed of others.
The book dissects the hidden alliances between governments and defense contractors, the silent collusion of the media, the speculative games of war-profiteers, and the commodification of soldiers' lives. It explores how war creates supply chains of suffering and demand curves of destruction. From the Pentagon to Wall Street, from drones to data, from bullets to bandwidth, Ahadi reveals a chilling marketplace few dare to acknowledge.
But this is not merely a historical survey.
WAR
delves into the psychological, philosophical, and cultural foundations that allow societies to justify endless war as policy, business, and even virtue. With searing insight and precise prose, the book challenges our assumptions, uncovers buried truths, and demands that we reckon with the real cost of profit-driven war.
If you think war is about defense, think again. If you believe peace is the natural goal of diplomacy, prepare to be shaken. This is not a conspiracy theory. It is the anatomy of the world's oldest, most lucrative business model. And it's still open for business.