War: What Is It Good For? The Role of Conflict in Civilisation, from Primates to Robots

Ian Morris presents a provocative argument that war, despite its horrors, has paradoxically made humanity safer and richer over the long term. Drawing on archaeology, anthropology, and military history, Morris traces how warfare led to the creation of larger societies with stronger governments that ultimately reduced violence. The book spans from prehistoric times to speculation about future robotic warfare, challenging conventional assumptions about conflict's role in human progress.