We often suppose that wars are fought over things like resources, border disputes, and ideologies. My guest calls this "the spreadsheet approach to war" and argues that, in reality, such factors only come in as justifications for the much deeper drives at play.
Mike Martin is a Senior Visiting Fellow in the Department of War Studies, King's College London and the author of Why We Fight. Today on the show, he draws on his background in biology and experience serving in the British army to offer an explanation as to why individuals and nation-states go to war. Mike argues that there are two fundamental impulses behind the drive to war: the drive for status and the drive for belonging. We discuss these motivations and how leaders and ideologies corral and amplify them. We end our conversation with how this view of war could prevent conflicts and allow them to be fought more successfully, and also be a lens for how to help men flourish in a healthy way.
Resources Related to the PodcastThe 5 Priorities of Short-Term Survival
Overdoing Democracy
Bo Jackson, The Last Folk Hero
Magic, Archetypes, and the Mysteries of the Unconscious
Life Lessons From The Twilight Zone
7 Ways to Achieve Tranquility by Tuesday
A Guide to Getting Off the Grid
What Happened to the Idea of Self-Control?
What People Get Wrong About Walden
When to Quit
The Vagabond Travel Ethos
Can Virtue Be Taught?
The Cues That Make You Charismatic
Jack London's Literary Code [Rebroadcast]
Data-Backed Answers to Personal Finance Controversies
The Power of Ritual
The 7 Types of Work Jerks (And How to Deal With Them)
A World War II Story of Survival, Love, and Redemption
The Power of Unwavering Focus
The Character Traits That Drive Optimal Performance [REBROADCAST]
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
The Briefing with Albert Mohler
The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett