"The methods of peace propaganda which aim at establishing peace doctrine by argument and by creating a feeling favorable to peace in general seem to fall short of reaching the springs of human action and of dealing with the causes of the conduct which they seek to modify"

Elihu Root's quote expresses a crucial viewpoint on peace propaganda, recommending that while well-intentioned, these methods are inadequate for cultivating authentic, long lasting peace. His argument hinges on the inadequacy of mere persuasion and sentiment to deal with the much deeper, underlying causes of conflict. By "techniques of peace propaganda", Root describes the use of rhetoric and sob stories planned to cultivate a general pro-peace sentiment. These techniques frequently involve arguments created to rationally convince people of the value of peace, alongside appeals to emotion tailored toward creating an encouraging psychological climate.

Nevertheless, Root argues that these approaches stop working to reach the "springs of human action", or the basic motivations and instincts that drive human habits. This recommends that he views human actions, especially those associated to dispute, as being rooted in deeper mental, economic, or social forces than those that can be resolved through surface-level argumentation or psychological adjustment. As a result, the promo of a peace teaching should move beyond intellectual and emotional appeals to address these foundational drivers, which might include power imbalances, socioeconomic variations, or ingrained grievances.

Even more, Root highlights that peace propaganda does not properly attend to the "causes of the conduct" it seeks to change. This implies that genuine peace efforts must participate in more extensive methods that deal with the source of dispute and hostility-- such as resolving economic inequality, ensuring justice, and building fair systems. Without addressing such systemic problems, efforts at peace may be shallow or short-term.

In essence, Root's critique requires a more profound, systemic method to peace-building that transcends ideological persuasion and emotional appeals. It underscores the requirement of addressing the fundamental reasons for conflict to develop conditions where peace is not just a perfect however a concrete truth rooted in the structures and systems that govern human life.