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Margaret MacMillan on How War Has Shaped Humanity

Mar 25, 2023

Guest

Margaret MacMillan

In this engaging discussion, distinguished historian Margaret MacMillan, known for her insightful works on conflict, dives deep into the intricate relationship between war and societal progress. Alongside bestselling author Peter Frankopan, she explores why wars often lack clear objectives and the unexpected advancements they spur, such as women's suffrage and medical breakthroughs. The conversation highlights the complexities of national identity shaped by warfare and the evolving landscape of modern conflicts, making a compelling case for why understanding war is vital for humanity's future.

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insights

INSIGHT

The Illusion of Good Wars

War, even when fought for a just cause, involves terrible actions.
There are no "good" wars, only wars that might be necessary to fight.

insights

INSIGHT

Factors Leading to Total War

The rise of nationalism and the Industrial Revolution fueled total war.
Nationalism provided the ideology; industrialization, the means.

insights

INSIGHT

Gender Roles in War

Cultural expectations, not biology, primarily shape gender roles in war.
Women are often raised as nurturers, while men are expected to fight.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

War and Society: A Historical Interplay

01:41 • 11min

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The Paradox of War: Progress Amidst Catastrophe

12:58 • 4min

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War, Technology, and National Identity

16:53 • 22min

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Navigating the US-China Relationship: Firmness Over Hostility

39:14 • 2min

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The Iraq War and Its Aftermath

40:45 • 8min

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The Evolution and Dangers of Modern Warfare

48:20 • 4min

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#2634

• Mentioned in 17 episodes

The great illusion

Angell, Norman Sir

In 'The Great Illusion,' Norman Angell argues that the economic costs of war are so high that no nation can hope to gain from it. He contends that modern economic systems, based on trade and contract law, make war futile because conquest does not lead to economic benefits. The book refutes the common belief that military power results in greater wealth and instead posits that advanced economies can only generate value in the absence of military conflicts. Angell also discusses the psychological and moral aspects of war, emphasizing that the nature of modern capitalism makes nationalist sentiment among capitalists irrelevant. Despite its publication just before World War I, which seemed to contradict his thesis, the book remains a significant work in the field of international relations and peace studies.

#3879

• Mentioned in 12 episodes

The peacemakers

the great powers and American independence

Morris, Richard Brandon

#2414

• Mentioned in 19 episodes

The Goodness Paradox

Richard Wrangham

#230

• Mentioned in 103 episodes

The better angels of our nature

Why Violence Has Declined

Steven Pinker

In this book, Steven Pinker presents a detailed argument that violence has significantly decreased over the course of human history. He uses extensive data and statistical analysis to demonstrate this decline in various domains, including military conflict, homicide, genocide, torture, and the treatment of children, homosexuals, animals, and racial and ethnic minorities. Pinker identifies four key human motivations – empathy, self-control, the moral sense, and reason – as the 'better angels' that have oriented humans away from violence and towards cooperation and altruism. He also discusses historical forces such as the rise of the state (which he terms 'Leviathan'), the spread of commerce, the growth of feminist values, and the expansion of cosmopolitanism, which have contributed to this decline in violence.

#1230

• Mentioned in 32 episodes

War

Bob Woodward

In this book, Bob Woodward provides an intimate and sweeping account of one of the most tumultuous periods in presidential politics and American history. The narrative centers on President Joe Biden’s approach to managing the war in Ukraine and the Middle East conflict between Israel and Hamas, as well as Donald Trump’s efforts to regain political power. Woodward reveals the complexity and consequences of wartime back-channel diplomacy and decision-making, highlighting efforts to deter the use of nuclear weapons and prevent a rapid slide into World War III.

#4898

• Mentioned in 10 episodes

The use and abuse of history

Friedrich Nietzsche

#99956

Women of the Raj

The Mothers, Wives, and Daughters of the British Empire in India

Margaret MacMillan

Margaret MacMillan's 'Women of the Raj' provides a fascinating portrait of the women who accompanied British men to India during the colonial era. The book delves into their experiences, challenges, and roles in supporting the British Empire. Drawing from personal letters and memoirs, MacMillan vividly portrays the lives of these women, from their struggles with the climate and diseases to their social and domestic lives.

#27373

• Mentioned in 2 episodes

Once upon a time in Iraq

Basil Balian

In 'Once Upon a Time in Iraq', Basil Balian shares stories from his childhood in Iraq during the 1940s and 1950s, a period marked by the monarchy. The book offers a nostalgic view of a bygone era, contrasting with the current state of Iraq as a major war zone in the Middle East. Balian's narrative mythologizes the monarchy as a time of relative peace and stability.

War - Do we care enough? In this episode, distinguished historian Margaret MacMillan explains why we should care about war and how it’s profoundly impacted our societies, political institutions, values, language and some of our greatest cultural treasures.

In conversation with bestselling author and historian Peter Frankopan, MacMillan examines questions such as why warriors are typically men, what role women play, why there are wars with no clear objective or ending, and how non-state actors influence outcomes. Drawing on the themes of MacMillan’s book, 'War: How Conflict Shaped Us', the two also discuss the benefits of war, including votes for women, penicillin, and (arguably) nuclear power. Listen now to discover how war has shaped our past and will continue to shape our future.

This event was recorded in November 2020 and produced by Senior Producer Conor Boyle with editing by Daisy Moll

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