Why We Fight
The world of the 2020s is one where instability, war and societal breakup seem close. But, surely, we have learnt the lessons of the past? Surely, peace will continue?
Are you sure? Do you even know what causes wars? Mike Martin argues that we don't understand what causes violence and conflict, let alone how to go about solving these problems. But there is a way to make sense of war and society: linking the evolution of our brains with our history of social development, 'Why We Fight' shows how political dynamics, violence between individuals and, above all, war between groups are all caused by deep-seated, unconscious urges to seek status and belonging.
Weaving together evolution, personal experiences of war, and more than a decade of studying conflicts around the world, 'Why We Fight' will change the way you think about society, about war, and about yourself. It is a blueprint for the turbulent 2020s.
Mike Martin is a visiting research fellow at the Department of War Studies, King's College London, having previously studied biology at Oxford. Between these experiences, he served as a British Army officer in Afghanistan. His previous books include An Intimate War: An Oral History of the Helmand Conflict and Crossing the Congo: Over Land and Water in a Hard Place, the latter of which was shortlisted for the Edward Stanford Adventure Travel Writing Award in 2016.
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