The End of War? The Possibility of a World Without Conflict - John Horgan

Mid-Atlantic - conversations about US, UK and world politics

Guest: John Horgan, Author of "The End of War"

Summary:

John Horgan, author of "The End of War." Horgan, a seasoned American writer, challenges conventional perceptions of conflict, arguing that war is not a preordained part of human existence but rather a solvable scientific problem. The discussion traverses various dimensions of war, including its biological, historical, and psychological aspects. Horgan presents a compelling case for the human inclination towards peace, likening the eradication of war to curing cancer. The conversation also reflects on the impact of recent global conflicts and political shifts, questioning the inevitability and justification of war in modern times.

Selected Quotes:

1. John Horgan: "War keeps happening. And I feel that people need more than ever to realize how terrible war is and to realize also that if we have the collective will to get rid of war, to get beyond this period of militarism, we can do it."
2. John Horgan: "War turns us into monsters... War is something that we do, we inflict on each other, and therefore we can stop it."
3. John Horgan: "Violence generally is impractical... Nonviolence is more successful, produces better outcomes than violent rebellions."

Key Points:

War as a Scientific Problem: Horgan discusses his approach to understanding war through scientific methods, suggesting that war, unlike natural phenomena like cancer, is a human creation and thus can be resolved by human effort.

Human Nature and War: The discussion touches on the idea that humans are naturally inclined towards both peace and violence, challenging the notion that war is an inevitable part of human existence.

Recent Global Conflicts: The conversation acknowledges the ongoing conflicts worldwide, including in Ukraine, Israel-Palestine, and Ethiopia, and reflects on how these events have impacted Horgan's views since writing his book.

Democracy and Peace: The podcast delves into the concept of democratic peace theory, which suggests that democracies are less likely to go to war, especially with each other, and the contradictions in this theory as observed in recent history.

War and Its Moral Implications: A significant part of the discussion focuses on the moral aspects of war, especially the impact on civilians and children, and the ethical issues surrounding the use of violence in political conflicts.

Economics and Militarism: The conversation explores the relationship between economic factors, resource distribution, and the perpetuation of war, with particular attention to the role of capitalism and economic inequality in fostering conflicts.

Nonviolent Resistance and Social Change: Horgan advocates for nonviolent methods as more effective for achieving political and social goals, citing historical examples and research findings.

Role of Education and Raising Awareness: The importance of education in shaping perspectives on war and peace is emphasized, with Horgan discussing his role as an educator in challenging and broadening his students' views on these topics.

Hope for the Future: Despite the challenges and setbacks, the discussion concludes with a message of hope, emphasizing the potential for positive change and the importance of striving towards a more peaceful and just world.

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