Ian Morris’ “War! What Is It Good For?” tackles the complex relationship between war and societal development. He contrasts Hobbes and Rousseau’s views, asserting that war fosters larger, more organized societies that ultimately reduce violence. While acknowledging the human costs of conflict, Morris argues that understanding war’s historical role is vital for future peace.

In my ongoing effort to remember what I have read, some notes on “War! What Is It Good For?: Conflict and the Progress of Civilization from Primates to Robots” by Ian Morris. This read has been on my side table for over two-years, partially finished. Procrastination was due to the many concepts presented in this excellent book.

From Short and Brutal to Stationary Bandits

Morris starts out by presenting two different world views, Hobbes versus Rousseau. Hobbes’ perspective is that people need an external force, such as government, to contain and direct the carnal desires. Rousseau countered that humans in their natural state are empathetic and happy in their primitive state and it is human societies that corrupt them. The two men presented their ideas during a time of great transformation in Europe, the 17th to 18th centuries [1].

Fast forward a few hundred years and we now know the truth, both are correct/wrong because people and societies are more complex than either of them would have guessed. Into this conundrum comes Morris’ book.

Why War Does (Not) Kill People

Morris’ primary theses is that War creates more complex societies which in turn reduce violence, impose a rule of law, and allowed arts, science, religion, and societies to flourish. Well, until these societies are attacked and dismantled by other groups.

The attacker might be another large, complex society – or one with a new technical/social edge. Domesticating ponies and riding them as a small, nomadic band is a technical and social innovation [2].

This continued until the societies became rich enough to buy off the attackers, organized enough to defend themselves, or invent technologies to kill more effectively (such as gun powder, logistics, communications, etc.).

In the interim, the roving bands themselves settle down to administer the conquered territories as a stationary bandit. During this time of Pax (INSERT ERA HERE), peace reigns, settlements flourish, citizens are safer and live longer.

This increased likelihood of dying in your sleep at a ripe old age, as opposed to meeting a violent death as part of an unstable society is why, on balance, War saves lives – according to Morris. Of course, this is on balance and in the long run.

The long run is of little comfort if you and your family are displaced from your home, your children enslaved, or your lives taken as a casualty of a conflict. Morris recognizes the human costs to get to peace and is not immune to its short-term horrors to get to peace.

Pax Leviathan

The Romans, Mongols, Chinese, British, and Americans [3] all share something in common, they were/are Leviathans in their own times. A Leviathan is the biggest, baddest, and strongest of the stationary bandits. Collectively called Leviathans by Morris, they have common characteristics. Through superior technology, military strength, and administrative horsepower, they can force peace on those they have conquered/administer.

The lands they control flourish, at least for a time, under their hegemony. In due course, their time comes to an end for a variety of reasons. Internal corruption destroys their competitive advantage. External forces eat away at their strength. And they become exhausted being the Leviathan.

Administration is a costly affair, only the largest and strongest can set up the structures and these systems have a short shelf life. Without a strong moral fiber at the top, the administration can become corrupt. Technology can both enable and destroy these administrations. Finally, there must be a belief in the righteousness of Leviathan cause. If you don’t believe that the sun should never set on the British Empire, you should not be a colonial administrator.

The Next 50 Years

As a historian, Morris can provide his observation from the comfort of retrospect. He also acknowledges, that the 21st century will be a dangerous time for humanity and our planet.

While a Mongol horde used advanced tactics and technology for their day, their impact was localized to Eurasia. Today, weapons of mass destruction, drones, AI, and a host of other technical nightmares not yet invented makes genocide laughably easy.

If we can create a Leviathan we can control, there may still be hope for humanity. This is Morris’ message. We have the knowledge to create lasting peace because of the historical lessons of WAR!

Notes

1. I am begging forgiveness of the political philosophers reading this summary.
2. I am referring of course to Mongols, a good summary of their tactics is available: https://www.historyonthenet.com/what-made-the-mongol-army-so-successful.
3. Most people of heard of Pax Roma and Pax Americana, but how about Pax Mongolica? Wikipedia the rescue again: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_periods_of_regional_peace.

Further Reading

• https://www.cnn.com/2014/05/01/opinion/war-benefits/index.html.
• https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/culture/46344/book-review-war-what-is-it-good-for-by-ian-morris

Book Summary

“War! . . . . / What is it good for? / Absolutely nothing,” says the famous song―but archaeology, history, and biology show that war in fact has been good for something. Surprising as it sounds, war has made humanity safer and richer.

In War! What Is It Good For?, the renowned historian and archaeologist Ian Morris tells the gruesome, gripping story of fifteen thousand years of war, going beyond the battles and brutality to reveal what war has really done to and for the world. Stone Age people lived in small, feuding societies and stood a one-in-ten or even one-in-five chance of dying violently. In the twentieth century, by contrast―despite two world wars, Hiroshima, and the Holocaust―fewer than one person in a hundred died violently. The explanation: War, and war alone, has created bigger, more complex societies, ruled by governments that have stamped out internal violence. Strangely enough, killing has made the world safer, and the safety it has produced has allowed people to make the world richer too.

War has been history’s greatest paradox, but this searching study of fifteen thousand years of violence suggests that the next half century is going to be the most dangerous of all time. If we can survive it, the age-old dream of ending war may yet come to pass. But, Morris argues, only if we understand what war has been good for can we know where it will take us next.