Is war more profitable than peace? David Keen Talks to Al Jazeera
As the United States–Israel war on Iran intensifies, David Keen, Professor of Conflict Studies at the London School of Economics’ Department of International Development, shared his insights in an interview with Neave Barker for Talk to Al Jazeera, which aired on Sunday 5 April 2026.
Keen explored why some conflicts persist without a decisive outcome, arguing that war is not always driven by the pursuit of victory alone. Instead, it can function as a tool for political control, economic gain and the consolidation of power, creating systems that often endure beyond the battlefield.
Pointing to dynamics such as sanctions, smuggling networks, military spending and the mobilisation of “useful enemies”, he explained how violence can become embedded and even functional. His analysis suggests that the key challenge is not simply ending war, but making peace more attractive than the incentives that sustain it.