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All Hail the Military
TL;DR
Global conflicts are surging in 2026, with nearly 60 active conflicts and war-related deaths at a 30-year high. The series 'All Hail the Military' explores the persistence of militarism in society.
Key points
- Nearly 60 active conflicts worldwide in 2026
- War-related deaths at a 30-year high
- Over 120 million people displaced due to conflicts
- Series explores the persistence of militarism
- Not a rallying cry but a warning
We’re not even halfway through 2026, and global conflicts are already surging.
Last year marked a grim turning point with nearly 60 active conflicts worldwide, war-related deaths at a 30-year high and more than 120 million people displaced.
I’m Ali Rae, a journalist with Al Jazeera English and presenter of All Hail, a series exploring the systems of power that shape everyday life.
In its fifth season, we move beyond defining militarism to ask the harder question: Why does it persist?
All Hail the Military is not a rallying cry but a warning.
This isn’t front-line reporting. It’s not live updates from the battlefield. This is the story behind the relentless militarism that drives our world - the systems that feed it, the complicity it thrives on and the silences that protect it.
To unpack things, I’ve traced recurring patterns, the roles that keep resurfacing in conflict. Some are chosen; others are imposed.
Who profits? Who judges? Who fights? Who suffers? And who watches from afar?
Jump to a chapter.
Q&A
What are the current statistics on global conflicts in 2026?
As of 2026, there are nearly 60 active conflicts worldwide, with war-related deaths at a 30-year high.
How many people have been displaced due to conflicts in 2026?
Over 120 million people have been displaced due to conflicts as of 2026.
What is the focus of the series 'All Hail the Military'?
The series examines the systems of power that perpetuate militarism and questions why it continues to exist.
