Roots of War and Terror (Continuum Compact) [Paperback]

Anthony Stevens (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0826476317 | ISBN-13: 978-0826476319 | Publication Date: June 20, 2005

In 'The Roots of War and Terror' Anthony Stevens provides profound insights into the nature and origins of armed conflict. Combining the concepts of the archetype and the collective unconscious (Jungian) with crucial evidence from the behavioural and biological sciences, Stevens exposes war as an ancient propensity rooted in human psychology - particularly in the psychology and anatomy of the human male. Stevens explains what attracts men to the profession of arms and describes the age-old techniques, still used in military training camps, which are necessary to activate the warrior archetype in the masculine psyche. The author sheds light on how leaders persuade populations to go to war and lays bare the unconscious fantasies that could draw us all to final Armageddon. In later chapters in his book, Stevens discusses ways of inhibiting the archetypes of war (through educational policy and admission of women into the citadels of masculine power) of diverting them into less destructive channels 'The Roots of War and Terror' is an indispensable work for anyone wishing to understand the psychological basis of war or hoping to discover ways in which the unimaginable catastrophe of nuclear war could be avoided' Denial and dissociation, repression and projection enable us to remain cheerfully unconscious. Disguised as defenders of our egos and protectors of our peace of mind, those discreet flunkies are really secret agents in the service of the archetypes of war. Unknown and unrecognised by our fellow citizens, they are the stooges of Armageddon'

Editorial Reviews

Review

A summary of the book is included in an article on war and terrorism. San Francisco Chronicle, 5/9/04--William S. Kowinski "San Francisco Chronicle "

About the Author

Dr Anthony Stevens is a psychiatrist and analyst. He lectures in the UK, USA and the C.G. Jung Institute, Zurich. His celebrated books are 'On Jung' (Hamish Hamilton), 'On Dreams' (Penguin) and 'Archetype: A Natural History of the Self' (Routledge).

Product Details

• Paperback: 274 pages
• Publisher: Continuum (June 20, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0826476317
• ISBN-13: 978-0826476319
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,853,237 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Can we avoid catastrophe?, September 15, 2005

By 

Anna Lee - See all my reviews

This review is from: Roots of War and Terror (Hardcover)

I found Anthony Stevens' book absolutely gripping. It is an extremely interesting take on war and peace. Unlike most `'why wars begin'' theories his emphasis is on the psychology and particularly the psychology of the human male.

He looks at the universality of war, the inevitability of conflict and how from the archetypal standpoint wars may be regarded as natural phenomena which originally had a possible biological purpose: to keep human groups in a state of biological balance (with each other and the environment). What was once adaptive for our species, has since the advent of large scale destructive weaponry, become grossly maladaptive: Pandora's Box or Frankenstein's monster.

He discusses pseudospecies, our projection of the enemy archetype (Jung's shadow archetype) on to an `out-group, making it possible for moral restraint to be overcome by sheer aggression. The only difference between us and other aggressive species is that we are conscious. So which possesses the greater power: consciousness or the archetypes? Although I am a little familiar with Jung's concept of archetypes Steven's explains all with such clarity and writes so well that you need no background in anything, other than a familiarity and interest in your fellow man.

Stevens discusses basic war and adds that terrorism is a form of this. He looks at the fundamental difference between the secular and religious terrorist. There is a chapter devoted to making warriors and how making terrorists is broadly the same. A chapter on making war, some of which I found particularly chilling. For example, how we reject the death penalty for the most vicious terrorist crimes but spend billions on the production of weapons that could annihilate countless multitudes. This is a collective shift from the relaxed state to the mobilised state that requires profound intra-psychic changes in all members of the community and reaches far beyond rational considerations.

We then get on to making peace. He examines various ways to deal with the archetypes (nb archetypes are potentials that can be activated they are not instincts). Feminisation of society is one possibility (my query: will this work when you are faced with a very male warlike adversary?), genetic engineering another and international sport yet another (ie get the male of the species to bond with each other using an aggressive theme on a field!). All have their drawbacks. How about other war substitutes? We had the space race and the arms race during the Cold War, but now the West has become the victim of it's own success as, with the removal of the balance of terror (world obliteration) that the Cold War provided, war is now a feasible option.

Stevens conclusion to the story so far: life on this planet has become a race between consciousness and catastrophe. It is not between Christendom and Islam, it is nor between totalitarianism and democracy but between consciousness and the archetypal imperatives to war.

Fascinating stuff. I thoroughly recommend it.