But the result of war is the failure of having and the renewed experience of loss. … of course no one fights wars with the express intention of losing them, but every war brings with it sacrifice and loss, which is ultimately the substance of the social bond and the source of our ability to enjoy that bond. The pursuit of pleasure of having leads to the loss that inevitably accompanies this pursuit. 161
… one cannot discount the fact that societies also go to war simply to defend themselves and survive. But even the seemingly pure war of defense produces sacrifice that allows subjects to enjoy the social bond, and in this way it goes beyond simple defense. Note 28, 316
The conquering drive of empires has its roots in the search for what no amount of imperial possession can provide – the enjoyment of the experience of loss. Empires conquer increasing quantities of territory in order to discover a territory that they can’t conquer… powerful societies ultimately go to war in order to re-enact a constitutive loss and facilitate the enjoyment that this loss entails. 161