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Killing War?

The Valley of Peace in Iraq.
Creative Commons - Attribution 2.0 Generic Creative Commons - Attribution 2.0 Generic

The 'Valley of Peace' in Iraq.

Despite fears that the end of the Cold War would usher in a new era of instability, fewer wars, fewer deaths and a decline in the legitimacy of political violence have led some to announce the ‘demise of war.’ But is this decline temporary or reflective of an increasingly peaceful world?

Andrew Mack

The Demise of War?

07 Jan 2013 / Audio

In today’s podcast, Andrew Mack discusses what the long-term statistical trends are telling us – i.e., we are fighting fewer wars and they are leading to fewer deaths. Despite this good news, he also warns us that the same evidence cannot be used to make predictions about the future. More on «The Demise of War?»

White dove flying, courtesy of David Campbell/flickr

Is the World Becoming More Peaceful?

08 Jan 2013 / Special Feature

While both the legitimacy and utility of war have declined in recent history, it remains unclear whether this trend is permanent. Today, courtesy of our partners at the Carnegie Council, Steven Pinker and Robert Kaplan discuss whether the world is becoming more peaceful or not. More on «Is the World Becoming More Peaceful?»

Two hands holding the planet Earth, courtesy of Bart Cayusa/flickr

Triangulating Peace

09 Jan 2013 / Special Feature

With some notable exceptions, why has organized violence recently lost much of its utility and value? John O’Neal and Bruce Russet argue that this trend is attributable to a ‘triangulation’ of factors: democracy, economic interdependence and the growing role of international organizations. More on «Triangulating Peace»

Gull sitting on the head of a statue, courtesy bobtravis/flickr

Capitalism, Peace, and the Historical Movement of Ideas

10 Jan 2013 / Special Feature

Most people may now believe that war is an unambiguous evil, but the widespread belief in this idea is actually a recent one. Today, John Mueller traces the idea’s history and the role ‘norm entrepreneurs’ have played in its spread. More on «Capitalism, Peace, and the Historical Movement of Ideas»

Objects on display in a museum, courtesy Travis S./flickr

The New Aztecs

11 Jan 2013 / Special Feature

According to Zhivan Alach, Western militaries have abandoned “total war.” Instead, they have returned to the ritualistic and restrained methods associated with civilizations such as the Aztecs, which may help provide yet another explanation for the apparent demise of war in recent times. More on «The New Aztecs»

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