War Is Not Inevitable—A More Peaceful Future Is Possible
War has always been a prominent theme in human history, leaving its mark on our memories and historical records. But is it truly an inherent part of human evolution? Recent anthropological research challenges this notion, suggesting that war is not ingrained in our nature, but rather a social and cultural development that emerged at different points around the globe.
According to R. Brian Ferguson, a historical anthropologist from Rutgers University, war is not a universal trait. Instead, it started due to societal changes, with evidence of its origins appearing at varying times in different regions. Some places showed no signs of war until as recently as 2,000 years ago, indicating that it wasn't always a prevalent feature of human existence.
In a Scientific American article, Ferguson presents the viewpoints of two anthropological camps: the hawks and the doves. The hawks argue that war is an inherent tendency in humans, dating back to our common ancestor with chimpanzees.
The doves contend that war emerged more recently due to changing social conditions. Evidence suggests that lethal group attacks occurred when hunter-gatherer societies grew in complexity and later with the rise of agriculture.
While exploring war's origins, we must recognize that our future hinges on global cooperation. Existential threats, such as man-made climate disasters and biodiversity decline, require collective action. Pandemics like COVID-19 potentially result from deforestation and dwindling biodiversity, emphasizing the urgent need for environmental protection.
In this context, large-scale wars, like Russia’s aggression in Ukraine, seem irrational and anachronistic. Instead, we should focus on cooperation to tackle these global challenges effectively. To prevent wars and foster cooperation, researchers Geneviève Souillac and Douglas P. Fry propose the concept of “peace systems”—clusters of neighboring societies that do not engage in war with each other. They already exist on various scales, from Indigenous groups to the European Union.
We can envision an era of global cooperation by examining the shared characteristics of peace systems, such as positive social interconnectedness, non-warring values, and peace leadership. The film “A Path Away From War” explores these ideas and highlights the historical success of Indigenous peace systems like the Haudenosaunee.
As we face global challenges like climate change, pandemics, and nuclear proliferation, peace systems offer a promising path to a more peaceful future. War is not an inevitable part of our existence. We can pave the way for a more harmonious and prosperous world by embracing cooperation and fostering peace systems.
🔭 This summary was human-edited with AI-assist.
