Invasion

From ArticleWorld

Invasion may mean a forcible entry into a foreign country to violate its borders and access it with the intention of conquering, plundering and overpowering it. It is generally defined as the warlike or hostile act of encroachment upon the rights or possessions of another state or nation. Needless to say it may also mean the invasion of a disease – the spread of pathogenic microorganisms or malignant cells in the host’s body to form a tumor.

History

Invasions seem to be as old as time with archeological remains lending support to the argument of the occurrence of invasions since prehistoric times. One of the best known and documented invasions took place on English soil in the year 1066 after the death of King Edward. Invasions have been responsible for the mixing of cultures, for the coming together of races, and for the confluence of religions and philosophies.

Reason and rationalization

The commonest reason for invasion of one state by another state may be said to be the expansion of territories of the invader. Sometimes countries are invaded for the purpose of looting and killing. Mongols invaded India with just this purpose in mind as did the Muslims to begin with; then finding the country divided into many small states and with untold riches awaiting their pleasure, they decided to stay and rule. They invaded small princely states and added them to their own territories, thus expanding their boundaries, at one point of time, to cover almost the whole of India.

Recent invasions, like the US invasion of Iraq may be said to have happened in the context of America’s conception of putting right the whole world’s wrongs and to establish a democratic state.

Guard

With the help of some natural barriers (like the Himalayas in India’s north) states have from time immemorial have tried to fortify their boundaries against foreign invasion. The Great Wall of China and Hadrian’s Wall serve as good examples. Today, totally fenced borders with guard towers and search lights and movement sensor mine fields have taken the place of forts, trenches and walls of yore.