Heartland’s Tim Benson is joined by renowned historian Richard Overy to discuss his new book, Why War? They chat about why has war been such a consistent presence throughout the human past, and indeed in the human present, and what are the major drivers and motivations for war, how each has contributed to organized conflict, and whether humanity will ever evolve away from organized conflict. They also discuss the impulses embedded in human biology and psychology, the incentives to conflict developed through cultural evolution, and how competition for resources, or conflicts stirred by the passions of belief, the effects of ecological stresses, the drive for power in leaders and nations, and the search for security all contribute to this phenomenon that is unique human.

Get the book here: https://wwnorton.com/books/9781324021742

Show Notes:

The Telegraph: James Holland – “Why humanity’s appetite for war will never be sated”

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/books/non-fiction/why-war-richard-overy-review/

Times Literary Supplement: Edward N. Luttwak – “Battle grounds”

 https://www.the-tls.co.uk/politics-society/politics/why-war-richard-overy-book-review-edward-luttwak

The Wall Street Journal: Dominic Green – “‘Why War?’ Review: Nature, Nurture and Violence”

https://www.wsj.com/arts-culture/books/why-war-review-nature-nurture-and-violence-e0babb7f

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