A history of war, humanity and technology

Historian Gwynne Dyer on his search to understand whether war is embedded in human nature, and why things are changing, despite the world becoming less violent over the past seven decades

Is war embedded in human nature?

Historian Gwynne Dyer has faced this question during a career serving in the navies of three countries: Canada, the US and the UK.

He says that although war has come to Ukraine, the truth is that the world has been getting less war-like for many decades.

Gwynne is the author of many books on history, war, and technology.

His latest book investigates how people have waged war since the dawn of humanity right up to the present day.

Seven decades have passed since two great powers have gone to war with each other.

But now, Gwynne warns, things are changing.

Further information

The Shortest History of War is published by Black Inc.

To binge even more great episodes of the ‘Conversations podcast’ with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.