Final answer:
Racism has played a pertinent role in historical conflicts, influencing attitudes and actions during events like WWII, the Fish Wars, and the Vietnam War. These examples illustrate how racism can shape military policy, contribute to war crimes, and exacerbate racial tensions within and between nations.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Role of Racism in the Fish Wars and Beyond
Throughout history, racism has been an undercurrent in various wars and conflicts, shaping perspectives and fueling hostilities. During the 1930s, Japan's experiences of Western racism contributed to its aggressive stance in World War II, particularly after the rejection of its proposed racial equality amendment to the Treaty of Versailles. This rejection fueled Japan's ambition to dominate Asia and rid it of Western influence.
In the United States, the fish wars of the 1960s to the 1980s highlighted racial tensions between Indigenous peoples and government authorities over fishing rights. The conflicts were seated in the longstanding promises made in treaties, wherein Indigenous peoples were assured the right to fish in their traditional areas. The fish wars were not just about fishing but were also a broader struggle for Indigenous rights and recognition.
Racism also influenced the conduct of U.S. troops during the Vietnam War, particularly at My Lai, where racist attitudes towards Vietnamese people led to brutality and atrocities. On a broader scale, the Pacific front of World War II saw a unique type of racial animosity between Americans and Japanese, fueled by propaganda and a degree of dehumanization of the enemy that was not as widespread in European theaters of the war.
The legacy of scientific racism also interweaved with military actions, such as the display of "primitive" races during the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair, reflecting a disturbing aspect of American racial perspectives. In the end, all these examples demonstrate that racism has been a recurrent factor in warfare and has impacted the course of history in significant ways.