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Darwin and International Relations: On the Evolutionary Origins of War and Ethnic Conflict by [Thayer, Bradley A.]

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Bradley A. Thayer

Darwin and International Relations: On the Evolutionary Origins of War and Ethnic Conflict Kindle Edition

by Bradley A. Thayer (Author)

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Pathbreaking and controversial, Darwin and International Relations offers the first comprehensive analysis of international affairs of state through the lens of evolutionary theory. Bradley A. Thayer provides a new method for investigating and explaining human and state behavior while generating insights into the origins of human and animal warfare, ethnic conflict, and the influence of disease on international relations. Using ethnological and statistical studies of warfare among tribal societies, Thayer argues that humans wage war for reasons predicted by evolutionary theory -- to gain and protect vital resources but also for the physically and emotionally stimulating effects of combat. Thayer demonstrates that an evolutionary understanding of disease will become a more important part of the study of international relations as new strains of diseases emerge and advances in genetics make biological warfare a more effective weapon for states and terrorists. He also explains the deep causes of ethnic conflict by illuminating how xenophobia and ethnocentrism evolved in humans. He notes that these behaviors once contributed to our ancestors' success in radically different environments, but they remain a part of us. Darwin and International Relations makes a major contribution to our understanding of human history and the future of international relations.

Length: 444 pages

Word Wise: Enabled

Product details

File Size: 5367 KB
Print Length: 444 pages
Publisher: The University Press of Kentucky (August 13, 2004)
Publication Date: August 13, 2004
Sold by: Amazon.com Services LLC
Language: English
ASIN: B00336ELYO
Text-to-Speech: Enabled

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Word Wise: Enabled
Lending: Not Enabled
Enhanced Typesetting: Not Enabled

Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #435,760 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
- #477 in Violence in Society (Kindle Store)
- #432 in Evolution (Kindle Store)
- #553 in International Relations (Kindle Store)

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Fine command of the literature

January 2, 2006

Format: Hardcover

Bradley Thayer's book demonstrates an encyclopedic command of the literature. The volume lays out the relevance for the relevance of evolutionary theory for our understanding of international relations. Given the political furor over creationism, intelligent design, and neo-Darwinian evolutionary theory, this work serves an important purpose. Thayer demonstrates the power of evolutionary theory in explaining many of the political phenomena associated with international politics. Readers interested in the implications of evolutionary theory for international politics would be well-advised to examine this volume.

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John M. Strate

Understanding International Relations

January 29, 2007

Format: Hardcover

The author uses evolutionary theory to develop ultimate explanations for common phenomena (warfare, ethnic conflict) that have largely eluded other international relations scholars. The basic argument is that warfare is an adaptation like other social behaviors. For our ancestors, on average, the benefits for participants in terms of the evolutionary currency of genes (or inclusive fitness) exceeded the costs. These benefits were mainly protection of kin and resources. In-group out-group distinctions, xenophobia, and ethnocentrism are also adaptations, and now supply the raw material for ethnic conflict.

The author acknowledges the contributions of international relations scholars using the standard social science model, including realists and rational choice scholars, but argues that their theories and explanations focus mainly on proximate causes and, problematically, are often not consilent with knowledge in the life sciences.

The author does an excellent job of reviewing the research conducted on intergroup aggression in animals, warfare among ants, and intraspecific killing among chimpanzees. There are able reviews of the literature on primitive warfare and the motivation/emotions of warriors. The little discussed by pivotal role of disease in facilitating and inhibiting Western expansion is discussed. Current theories of ethnic conflict--primordialism and modernism--are compared and their strengths and weaknesses identified.

This book should be read widely by anybody who wants a deeper, well-grounded, scientific understanding of the roots of warfare and ethnic conflict

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