1. World problems
  2. Collaboration with the enemy

Collaboration with the enemy

  • Collaboration with occupying forces
  • Collaborationist regimes

Nature

Collaboration with the enemy refers to the act of cooperating with a hostile power or occupying force, often during times of war or conflict. This behavior is widely regarded as a serious problem, as it undermines national security, weakens resistance efforts, and can lead to the betrayal of one’s country or community. Collaborators may provide intelligence, resources, or support to the enemy, resulting in social division, loss of trust, and harsh legal or social consequences. The issue raises complex ethical, legal, and historical questions about loyalty, survival, and justice in times of crisis.This information has been generated by artificial intelligence.

Background

The problem of collaboration with the enemy gained global prominence during the World Wars, when instances of individuals and groups aiding occupying forces provoked widespread condemnation and legal repercussions. Subsequent conflicts, such as the Cold War and decolonization struggles, further highlighted the complexities of allegiance and survival under occupation. Over time, historical inquiry and legal scholarship have deepened understanding of collaboration’s varied motivations and its enduring impact on societies grappling with occupation and national identity.This information has been generated by artificial intelligence.

Incidence

With the change in regimes in eastern Europe and the collapse of the former USSR, the release of secret police and similar files led to the exposure of many individuals as collaborators.

Public trials began in Kuwait in 1991 of 628 alleged collaborators suspected of aiding the Iraqi forces during the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. The accused were mainly Palestinians and Iraqis, and regarded by many as innocent victims of the public need for vengeance.

One example of Vichy French collaboration during the Second World War was the arrest by Paris police of some 13,000 Paris Jews for deportation to the Nazi concentration camps. There were around 4,000 children included. About 400 survived the war. France's Roman Catholic Church has also been accused of fully supporting the Nazi government of Vichy France.

Around 242 Belgian collaborators were executed after World War Two, most members of the Gestapo; another 58,000 were gaoled and stripped of their right to vote, attend university or collect war pensions. In 1999, the Appeal Court overturned a controversial law offering compensation to Belgians who became "victims of repression" by their collaboration.

Claim

Collaboration with the enemy is a grave and urgent problem that threatens the very foundation of trust and security within any society. Such betrayal undermines collective efforts, endangers innocent lives, and emboldens adversaries. Ignoring or downplaying this issue risks irreparable damage to national integrity and unity. We must confront and address collaboration with the enemy decisively, as it poses a direct challenge to our values, safety, and future stability.This information has been generated by artificial intelligence.

Counter-claim

The notion that "collaboration with the enemy" is a pressing problem is vastly overstated. In today’s interconnected world, rigidly labeling others as enemies only hinders progress and understanding. Most so-called collaborations are pragmatic efforts to solve shared challenges, not acts of betrayal. Obsessing over this issue distracts from real problems that demand our attention. It’s time to move beyond outdated paranoia and focus on constructive engagement instead.This information has been generated by artificial intelligence.

Broader

Narrower

Treason
Unpresentable

Aggravates

Subversion
Presentable

Aggravated by

Related

Strategy

Value

Enmity
Yet to rate
Collaboration
Yet to rate

SDG

Sustainable Development Goal #16: Peace and Justice Strong Institutions

Metadata

Database
World problems
Type
(D) Detailed problems
Biological classification
N/A
Subject
  • Defence » Conflict
  • Defence » Espionage, subversion
  • Defence » Military forces » Military forces
  • Content quality
    Presentable
     Presentable
    Language
    English
    1A4N
    G2132
    DOCID
    11721320
    D7NID
    148944
    Editing link
    Official link
    Last update
    Jan 11, 2021