Podcasts about why we fight the roots

  • 32PODCASTS
  • 35EPISODES
  • 50mAVG DURATION
  • ?INFREQUENT EPISODES
  • Dec 19, 2024LATEST

POPULARITY

20172018201920202021202220232024


Best podcasts about why we fight the roots

Latest podcast episodes about why we fight the roots

Defense One Radio
Year in review

Defense One Radio

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 19, 2024 50:22


We listen back on more than a dozen guests from conversations across 2024.  Guests (in order): Fabian Hinz, research fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies; Bruce Hoffman, senior fellow for counterterrorism and homeland security at the Council on Foreign Relations, and co-author of "God, Guns, and Sedition: Far-Right Terrorism in America"; Karolina Hird, analyst and Russia Deputy Team Lead at the Institute for the Study of War; Elliot Ackerman, co-author of "2054: A Novel"; Mackenzie Eaglen, senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, where she works on defense strategy, defense budgets, and military readiness; Ankit Panda, Stanton Senior Fellow in the Nuclear Policy Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace; Chris Blattman, economist, political scientist, and Ramalee E. Pearson Professor of Global Conflict Studies at the University of Chicago, and author of the 2022 book, "Why We Fight: The Roots of War and the Paths to Peace"; Mick Ryan, retired Australian Army major general, strategist, and author of “White Sun War: The Campaign for Taiwan"; Dmitri Alperovitch, chairman of the Silverado Policy Accelerator, a geopolitics think-tank in Washington, and author of “World on the Brink: How America Can Beat China in the Race for the Twenty-First Century"; Sam Skove, former Defense One staff writer; Mark Montgomery, a retired U.S. Navy rear admiral, is a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies in Washington and senior director of FDD's Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation; Peter Tamte, founder and CEO of Victura; And Brent Sadler, retired Navy captain and senior research fellow at the Heritage Foundation.

F-World: The Fragility Podcast
#13 – Chris Blattman: Why We Fight - The Roots of War and the Paths to Peace

F-World: The Fragility Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 31, 2023 92:57


Christopher Blattman is the Ramalee E. Pearson Professor of Global Conflict Studies at the University of Chicago's Harris School of Public Policy, where he co-leads the Development Economics Center and the Obama Foundation Scholars Program. Chris also has affiliations with Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA), MIT's Poverty Action Lab, the National Bureau for Economic Research, and the Center for Global Development. He has served as a consultant and adviser to the World Bank, the United Nations, and governments in Uganda, Liberia, Colombia, and the United States.This conversation was a lot of fun and we covered a lot of ground: from Sparta to Kiev, from the Peloponnesian War to the Iraq War, from Russia's attack on Ukraine to the prospects of war between China and Taiwan, and so much more! We start by talking about Chris's journey, from growing up in Ottawa to finding his way to international work and then eventually to conflict. We then shift to Chris's book, “Why We Fight”, and the concept of fragility. Chris highlights how fragility sets the stage upon which the five reasons why we fight push a society away from bargaining to using violence or as he puts it: “when killing an Archduke in some random Balkan city can send the world to war.” The five reasons for war that Chris identifies in his book are: unchecked interests, intangible incentives, uncertainty, commitment problems, and misperceptions. We discuss whether there is a potential hierarchy among then, how they are connected, which of the five reasons played a role in Russia's invasion of Ukraine, as well as how intangible incentives can be seen in the Ukrainians' resolution to protect their country. Chris also sums up decades of research and practical insights into 10 general principles that can set the world on the path to peace. We talk about how leaders are tempted by grand visions, but in reality, change happens incrementally – too bad 3% better doesn't make for a good slogan! Listen to the episode for so many more insights from Chris Blattman! *****Dr. Christopher BlattmanWebsite: https://chrisblattman.comTwitter: https://twitter.com/cblattsLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisblattman*****Mihaela Carstei, Paul M. Bisca, and Johan Bjurman Bergman co-host F-World: The Fragility Podcast. Twitter: https://twitter.com/fworldpodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/fworldpodcast/Website: https://f-world.orgMusic: "Tornado" by Wintergatan. Many thanks to Wintergartan for allowing us to use their wonderful music! This track can be downloaded for free at www.wintergatan.net. Video editing by: Alex Mitran - find Alex on Facebook (facebook.com/alexmmitran), Twitter (twitter.com/alexmmitran), or LinkedIn (linkedin.com/in/alexmmitran)EPISODE RESOURCES:Blattman, Christopher (2022). Why We Fight: The Roots of War and the Paths to Peace. New York: Viking PressThe prospects for war with China: Why I see a serious chance of World War III in the next decadehttps://chrisblattman.com/blog/2022/10/26/the-prospects-for-war-with-china-why-i-see-a-serious-chance-of-world-war-iii-in-the-next-decade/TIMESTAMPS:00:00:00 Introduction00:00:55 Chris's background – people, places, ideas that charted his path00:02:56 How Chris approaches risk and how to think about career moves  00:05:08 How culture enables risk taking and the role of failure in progress00:07:17 A potential correlation between risk taking and creativity00:10:50 What is fragility? 00:12:57 Dividing the pie and fragility00:15:32 Why we don't write books about wars that didn't happen OR Why enemies prefer to loathe one another in peace00:18:29 When do we actually fight00:22:41 The five reasons for wars00:26:49 How to think about uncertainty vs. commitment problems00:30:46 How do intangible incentives that evolve change the nature of commitment problems00:33:07 What is the interplay between uncertainty and technology00:38:16 How interdependence failed to stop Russia's attack on Ukraine00:44:58 Is there a threshold of violence that we should accept in order to avoid war? 00:47:56 Why the West missed the Ukrainian people's resolve - Most oppressed people don't revolt00:53:12 Bad guys and good guys support propaganda00:56:52 Can you change people's and leaders' misperceptions?01:01:19 Which leaders take their country to war - Leaders that have military training, but no battle experience, take their country to war01:05:06 Wicked problems – what are they and how to tell the difference between a simple and a wicked problem01:07:44 When misperceptions are desirable, aka politics01:11:29 Chris's 10 commandments as the anti-bureaucracy commandments

Hub Dialogues
Episode #274: Dialogue with Christopher Blattman

Hub Dialogues

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 12, 2023 37:51


This episode of Hub Dialogues features Sean Speer in conversation with Christopher Blattman, professor at the University of Chicago's Harris School of Public Policy, about his must-read book, Why We Fight: The Roots of War and the Paths to Peace. The Hub Dialogues (which is one of The Hub's regular podcasts) feature The Hub's editor-at-large, Sean Speer, in conversation with leading entrepreneurs, policymakers, scholars, and thinkers on the issues and challenges that will shape Canada's future at home and abroad. The episodes are generously supported by The Ira Gluskin And Maxine Granovsky Gluskin Charitable Foundation and the Linda Frum and Howard Sokolowski Charitable Foundation.If you like what you are hearing on Hub Dialogues consider subscribing to The Hub's free weekly email newsletter featuring our insights and analysis on key public policy issues. Sign up here: https://thehub.ca/free-member-sign-up/. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Facepalm America
War: What Is It Good For?

Facepalm America

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 16, 2022 14:41


I interview Christopher Blattman, author of the new book, Why We Fight: The Roots of War and the Paths to Peace.

peace war paths christopher blattman why we fight the roots
unSILOed with Greg LaBlanc
209. Developing Non-Violent Conflict Solutions That Last feat. Chris Blattman

unSILOed with Greg LaBlanc

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 9, 2022 53:04


While wars and other violent conflicts dominate the news, it is easy to overlook that the majority of conflicts are actually resolved peacefully. In his highly acclaimed book “Why We Fight The Roots of War and The Paths to Peace”, author Chris Blattman draws on his expertise in economics, political science, and history to explain the five reasons why conflicts (rarely) turn violent and how to interrupt that deadly process.Chris Blattman is an economist and political scientist who uses field work and statistics to study poverty, political engagement, the causes and consequences of violence, and policy in developing countries. He is a professor at the Harris School of Public Policy at the University of Chicago.Greg and Chris discuss what can be learned from the commonalities and differences of conflicts of all levels, from interpersonal disputes to street gang violence to warring states and how peacemakers can avoid emotional and strategic mistakes to develop non-violent conflict solutions that last.Episode Quotes:There's no 10-step plan for peace48:11: There's no 10-step plan for peace. I think there is a pretty simple set of ideas that can help us diagnose better, but then it's like being a doctor... (49:03) When we are asking our leaders to solve problems of development, change our cities, solve racism, or solve conflict, which is much more complex, we have this different set of expectations. We kind of want them to come to us and promise that Tylenol and radiation therapy are the answer and all we need is more of them, and all situations are alike. Tylenol and radiation therapy worked for that country, or this city, or that people. So it must work for us. And I don't know why we have that, why we accept that, and why we're like that in these two different spheres of life. And I think we just have this amazing ability to forget how hard and complex a problem is in a lot of social change.What makes a good mediation?12:37: Everything that helps resolve conflict or keep us from not breaking out into violence, which we avoid most of the time, is something that helps us pay attention to the costs and not go down one of these paths that made us choose this—the costly worst option, which is to try to bargain through bloodshed.Show Links:Recommended Resources:The Strategy of Conflict by Thomas SchellingAmong the Thugs by Bill BufordGuest Profile:Faculty Profile at the University of ChicagoProfessional Profile on Center for Global DevelopmentChris Blattman's WebsiteChris Blatmman on LinkedInChris Blattman on FacebookHis Work:Chris Blattman on Google ScholarWhy We Fight: The Roots of War and the Paths to Peace

In Pursuit of Development
Why we fight — Chris Blattman

In Pursuit of Development

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 26, 2022 58:01


While there are millions of hostile rivalries around the world, only a fraction of these erupt into violence. It is easy to overlook the underlying strategic forces of war and to see war mainly as a series of errors and accidents. It is also easy to forget that war shouldn't happen—and most of the time it doesn't. Chris Blattman is a Professor at the University of Chicago in the Harris School of Public Policy. He is an economist and political scientist who studies violence, crime, and underdevelopment. His most recent book is Why We Fight: The Roots of War and the Paths to Peace, which shows that violence is actually not the norm; and that there are only five reasons why conflict wins over compromise. Twitter: @cblatts Host:Professor Dan Banik, University of Oslo, Twitter: @danbanik  @GlobalDevPodApple Google Spotify YouTubehttps://in-pursuit-of-development.simplecast.com/

The Economics Review
Ep. 67 - Dr. Christopher Blattman | Featured Guest Interview

The Economics Review

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 17, 2022 32:29


Dr. Christopher Blattman is the Ramalee E. Pearson Professor of Global Conflict Studies at the University of Chicago, studying why some people and societies are poor, unequal, and violent, and how to tackle these issues. Holding a Ph.D. from UC Berkeley, his latest book is titled Why We Fight: The Roots of War and the Paths to Peace, which draws on decades of economics, political science, psychology, and real-world interventions to lay out the root causes and remedies for war.

university chicago peace war holding paths uc berkeley christopher blattman why we fight the roots global conflict studies
Lowy Institute: Live Events
Conversations: Chris Blattman on Why We Fight

Lowy Institute: Live Events

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 30, 2022 31:38


Join the Director of the Lowy Institute's International Security Program, Sam Roggeveen, as he talks with economist and political scientist Chris Blattman about his latest book, Why We Fight: The Roots of War and the Paths to Peace. Chis talks about the human propensity to violence, whether certain types of governments are more likely to go to war, and the unique perspective that an economist can bring to this subject.

Lowy Institute Conversations
Chris Blattman on Why We Fight

Lowy Institute Conversations

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 30, 2022 31:38


Join the Director of the Lowy Institute's International Security Program, Sam Roggeveen, as he talks with economist and political scientist Chris Blattman about his latest book, Why We Fight: The Roots of War and the Paths to Peace. Chis talks about the human propensity to violence, whether certain types of governments are more likely to go to war, and the unique perspective that an economist can bring to this subject.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Intelligence Squared
Why We Fight, with Christopher Blattman

Intelligence Squared

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 27, 2022 59:21


Christopher Blattman is an economist, political scientist and Ramalee E. Pearson Professor of Global Conflict Studies at The University of Chicago. His new book is Why We Fight: The Roots of War and the Paths to Peace, which explores why societies turn to violence and how poverty and oppression often go hand in hand with conflict. Chris's work has taken him from studying poverty in Uganda to street gangs in Medellin, investigating the likes of dictators, monarchs, mobs and football hooligans along the way. Joining him to discuss the book is our host, Carl Miller, Research Director of the Centre for the Analysis of Social Media (CASM) at Demos. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

university chicago peace war uganda analysis paths demos research director carl miller christopher blattman why we fight the roots global conflict studies
KERA's Think
Why war is surprisingly rare

KERA's Think

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 15, 2022 32:45


Russia's invasion of Ukraine may have seemed inevitable, but the reality is unfriendly neighbors usually find a way to avoid war. Christopher Blattman is the Ramalee E. Pearson Professor of Global Conflict Studies at the University of Chicago, where he co-leads the Development Economics Center and directs the Obama Foundation Scholars program. He joins host Krys Boyd to discuss his years of peacemaking experience, why compromise sometimes loses out to conflict, and how to encourage warring parties to make a deal. His book is “Why We Fight: The Roots of War and the Paths to Peace.”

university chicago peace war russia ukraine rare paths christopher blattman why we fight the roots global conflict studies
Ozarks at Large Stories
Reasons for Fighting and Methods to Avoid Fighting

Ozarks at Large Stories

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 15, 2022 16:18


Chrisopher Blattman's book Why We Fight: The Roots of War and the Paths to Peace examines why wars have been fought and the ways to avoide conflict.

peace war fighting methods paths why we fight the roots
The Way Podcast/Radio
84) Why We War

The Way Podcast/Radio

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 14, 2022 62:14


War is an unrelenting undercurrent of human civilization and has always been so. Today, economist and political scientist Chris Blattman, author of Why We Fight, offers an explanation as to the psychological and strategic forces that propel nations to opt for such ruinous violence. Bio: Chris Blattman is an economist and political scientist who uses field work and statistics to study poverty, political engagement, the causes and consequences of violence, and policy in developing countries. He is a professor in the Harris School of Public Policy at the University of Chicago. Background: Most of my current research is with armed groups, gangs, organized crime, and the people who join violent organizations. This work involves a blend of qualitative interviews, large-scale surveys, statistical analysis, and field experiments. I also want to bring big ideas and research to a general audience, which is why I wrote Why We Fight: The Roots of War and the Paths to Peace. I co-lead the Crime & Violence Initiative for MIT's Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) as well as the Peace and Recovery Program for the research NGO Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA). I'm also a Research Affiliate at UChicago's Crime and Inclusive Economy Labs. Finally, I'm a Research Associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). Website/Book - https://chrisblattman.com/why-we-fight/ Artwork by Phillip Thor - https://linktr.ee/Philipthor_art To watch the visuals with the trailer go to https://www.podcasttheway.com/trailers/ The Way Podcast - www.PodcastTheWay.com - Follow at Twitter / Instagram - @podcasttheway (Subscribe/Follow on streaming platforms and social media!) Thank you Don Grant for the Intro/Outro. Check out his podcast - https://threeinterestingthings.captivate.fm Intro guitar copied from Aiden Ayers at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UiB9FMOP5s *The views demonstrated in this show are strictly those of The Way Podcast/Radio Show*

WCPT 820 AM
Joan Esposito Live Local And Progressive 06.14.22

WCPT 820 AM

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 14, 2022 137:53


On Today's Show: - Chris Blattman - Professor at the University of Chicago; Author: "Why We Fight: The Roots of War and the Path to Peace." - Eric Carlson - First District Candidate. - Marcus Lewis - First District Candidate. - Jacqui Collins -- State Senator for the 16th District. - Doctor Lawrence Robbins - Neurologist.

The Not Unreasonable Podcast
Chris Blattman on Why We Fight

The Not Unreasonable Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 11, 2022 65:25 Transcription Available


Chris Blattman is an economist and political scientist and author of several books, most recently *Why We Fight: The Roots of War and the Paths to Peace*.  This is another installment in my investigation for how to pursue social change.  What I notice about insurance is that the institution is so deeply encoded in our society that we don't even realize how important it is. So deeply encoded that we actually kind of hate it, yet it persists because of how important it is. What are other ways of pursuing beneficial social change? Persistent beneficial social change? Violent conflict is a pretty big, nasty problem. But what are its roots and what are its causes? What might need to change about our world to reduce it? What is the relationship between peripheral and central societies and how is that related to violence? All that plus tons on James C Scott and more!youtube: https://youtu.be/H-bcj1LJy80show notes: https://notunreasonable.com?p=7498

Brand New Information
Deep Dive: Today's American Economy With Professor Chris Blattman

Brand New Information

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 7, 2022 40:27


As promised a few episodes back, today we're taking a deep dive into the factors affecting the current American economy. To do this, Jay is joined by economist and political scientist Chris Blattman from the University of Chicago. Tune in to learn how drivers such as Ukraine, Covid, inflation and globalization are affecting our current economic landscape. Plus, find out why Chris is hopeful about the state of the US economy. Check out Chris's new book - Why We Fight: The Roots of War and the Path to Peacehttps://www.amazon.com/Why-We-Fight-Roots-Paths/dp/1984881574/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1654113762&sr=8-1 Washington Post review of Chris's book: https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2022/05/27/an-incremental-way-peace-despite-putin-persistence-war/ Learn more about the Effective Altruism movement: https://www.effectivealtruism.org/

Book Club with Jeffrey Sachs
Season 2, Episode 6: Christopher Blattman, Why We Fight: The Roots of War and the Paths to Peace

Book Club with Jeffrey Sachs

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 7, 2022 44:38


Join Professor Jeffrey Sachs and Professor Christopher Blattman, to explore the dynamics of war and peace as they discuss Blattman's, Why We Fight: The Roots of War and the Paths to Peace.  In his newest book, Blattman argues that violence is not the norm; that there are five reasons why wars break out; and how peacemakers can draw on these reasons to prevent and stop wars. Together, they explore the dynamics of war and peace: how communities resolve conflicts, and why such efforts sometimes fail, leading to war. As conflict rages in Ukraine, listen in on this timely and vital conversation to learn more about “Why We Fight" and how we can end wars. The Book Club with Jeffrey Sachs is brought to you by the SDG Academy, the flagship education initiative of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network. Learn more and get involved at bookclubwithjeffreysachs.org.Footnotes:Mao ZedongUkraine War Clausewitz: War as Politics by other MeansMilitary History of RussiaThe Rise of Personalist RuleWashington as Land SpeculatorFrench and Indian WarPerpetual Peace: A Philosophical SketchSemi-sovereigntyGame TheoryReversed Industrialization StalemateThucydides TrapThe Peloponnesian WarNATOWar of Attrition Frozen Conflict AutocratVietnam WarVolodymyr ZelenskyyUnited Nations Security CouncilInternational Criminal Court 

Events at USIP
Why We Fight: A Conversation with Christopher Blattman

Events at USIP

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 2, 2022 59:02


In his new book, “Why We Fight: The Roots of War and the Paths to Peace,” acclaimed expert on violence and seasoned peacebuilder Christopher Blattman draws on decades of research on economics, political science, psychology and real-world interventions to lay out the root causes of — and remedies for — war. On June 2, USIP hosted a conversation with Blattman about what keeps rivals from compromise, as well as what remedies can shift incentives away from violence and get parties back to dealmaking. Speakers Joseph Hewitt, welcome remarksVice President of Policy, Learning, and Strategy, U.S. Institute of Peace Chris Blattman Professor, Harris School of Public Policy, University of Chicago; Author, “Why We Fight” Raj Kumar, moderatorFounding President and Editor-in-Chief, Devex For more information about the event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/why-we-fight-conversation-christopher-blattman

Get Connected
WHY WE FIGHT: The Roots of War and The Paths to Peace

Get Connected

Play Episode Listen Later May 30, 2022 15:07


While war dominates the news at the moment, in fact, most of the time, wars don't happen, and of the millions of hostile rivalries worldwide, only a fraction erupt into violence. Our guest is Christopher Blattman is author WHY WE FIGHT: The Roots of War and the Paths to Peace. Christopher Blattman is the Ramalee E. Pearson Professor of Global Conflict Studies at the University of Chicago, where he leads the development economics group and directs the prestigious Obama Scholars Program.

university chicago peace war roots paths get connected christopher blattman why we fight the roots global conflict studies
Big Brains
Why Countries Choose War Over Peace, With Chris Blattman

Big Brains

Play Episode Listen Later May 26, 2022 29:22


War is costly, deadly and destructive. So, why do we do it? In his new book Why We Fight: The Roots of War and The Paths to Peace, Prof. Chris Blattman of the University of Chicago lays out the five main reasons why countries go to war—and why building peace is actually a lot easier than we may think. Blattman is an economist and political scientist who studies global conflict, crime and poverty. As a seasoned peacebuilder, he has worked in a number of countries to help mitigate conflict between gang leaders, political enemies and ethnic villages. He argues that one of the keys to finding peace is using a tool called the bargaining range to give both sides a piece of what they want. In this episode, Blattman discusses how wars come to be, the incentives to stop them and what it will take for Putin to stop the fighting in Ukraine.

Chatter
The Movie "Casablanca" in Myth and Reality with Meredith Hindley

Chatter

Play Episode Listen Later May 26, 2022 70:53


This week marks the 80th anniversary of the start of principal photography on Casablanca, the 1942 film that would win Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Director (Michael Curtiz), and Best Adapted Screenplay (Philip Epstein, Julius Epstein, and Howard Koch). Often ranked by critics and the general public in the top five films of all time, Casablanca was first screened just as the city in French Morocco was hitting headlines because of the Allies' Operation TORCH invasion of North Africa during World War II.To talk about the movie, the city's wartime history, and the veracity of Casablanca's representations about Casablanca, David Priess chatted with Meredith Hindley--who back in 2017, wrote the richly entertaining book Destination Casablanca: Exile, Espionage, and the Battle for North Africa in World War II. Their conversation covers her advocacy for the humanities and history, unexpected discoveries in archival research, an appreciation of the film, American and French resistance intelligence operations in French Morocco, intersections between wartime Casablanca and personalities from Franklin Roosevelt to Josephine Baker, and what the film got right and wrong about the experiences of refugees and many others in this vibrant city.Chatter is a production of Lawfare and Goat Rodeo. This episode was produced and edited by Cara Shillenn of Goat Rodeo. Podcast theme by David Priess, featuring music created using Groovepad. Works discussed in this episode:The book Why We Fight: The Roots of War and the Paths to Peace, by Christopher BlattmanThe movie CasablancaMeredith Hindley's book Destination Casablanca: Exile, Espionage, and the Battle for North Africa in World War IIMeredith's other writingsMegan Kate Nelson, Saving Yellowstone: Exploration and Preservation in Reconstruction AmericaWoody Holton, LIberty is Sweet: The Hidden History of the American RevolutionRush, "Freewill" Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

History Unplugged Podcast
War Isn't the Natural State of Human Affairs: It Shouldn't Happen, and Most of the Time It Doesn't.

History Unplugged Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later May 24, 2022 46:46


War is assumed to be one of the chief features of human history. Plenty of ancient and modern writers back up this perspective (Plato said that only the dead have seen the end of war; John Steinbeck said all war is a symptom of man's failure as a thinking animal, suggesting it was hard-wired into our brutish nature). But what if the conventional wisdom is wrong? What if war isn't the status quo? This is the argument made by today's guest, who says prolonged violence between groups isn't normal. Wars shouldn't happen, and most of the time they don't. We are joined with Prof. Christopher Blattman, a professor of Global Conflict Studies at the University of Chicago and author of Why We Fight: The Roots of War and the Paths to Peace. He synthesizes decades of social science from politics, economics, and psychology to help people understand the reasons for war and why they are the exception to the normal state of human affairs, not the rule. On top of that, he uses game theory to explain the five reasons why wars happen. Using this schema, we discuss why Russia invaded Ukraine; why it took so long for the US to leave Afghanistan; why he thinks it's unlikely the US will have a civil war; and what to do about the spiking gang violence in big American cities. But what he really focuses on is peace -- what of remedies that shift incentives away from violence and get parties back to dealmaking? He walks us through the places where compromises and tradeoffs have worked, highlighting successful negotiation techniques or exploring often the much-maligned peacekeeping armies actually succeed, even using cognitive behavior therapy on drug lords, with surprising results.

Probable Causation
Bonus episode: Chris Blattman on why we fight

Probable Causation

Play Episode Listen Later May 17, 2022 48:48


David Eil talks with Chris Blattman about his book, "Why We Fight: The Roots of War and the Paths to Peace." *** Probable Causation is part of Doleac Initiatives, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. If you enjoy the show, please consider making a tax-deductible contribution. Thank you for supporting our work!  

peace war paths chris blattman why we fight the roots
The Realignment
242 | Christopher Blattman: Why Studying the Roots of War Shows the Paths to Peace

The Realignment

Play Episode Listen Later May 13, 2022 55:35


SUPPORT THE SHOW & SUBSCRIBE TO OUR PAID SUPERCAST: realignment.supercast.comThis episode and our expanded coverage are made possible thanks to our Supercast subscribers. If you can, please support the show above.REALIGNMENT NEWSLETTER: https://therealignment.substack.com/BOOKSHOP: https://bookshop.org/shop/therealignmentEmail us at: realignmentpod@gmail.comChristopher Blattman, Professor of Global Conflict Studies at the University of Chicago and author Why We Fight: The Roots of War and the Paths to Peace, joins The Realignment to discuss the reasons why conflict escalates into full-blown violence and warfare and the implications of the fact that "peace" not war is the historical norm for humanity. 

university chicago peace professor war roots studying paths bookshop realignment supercast christopher blattman why we fight the roots global conflict studies
Chatter
Why We Fight with Christopher Blattman

Chatter

Play Episode Listen Later May 5, 2022 92:37


Millions of hostile rivalries exist between groups worldwide, but their conflicts rarely escalate to protracted violence. Because would-be combatants know that all-out conflict usually proves immensely costly to all sides, they regularly find ways to avoid open warfare. And when it comes to international affairs in particular, we tend to focus on the wars that do occur at the expense of internalizing the core truth that, most of the time, they simply don't happen.Political scientist and economist Christopher Blattman has a fresh take on these big issues of war and peace. He argues for sustained attention not only to the mechanisms by which conflict wins out over compromise but also to the remedies that routinely shift incentives away from protracted violence and get rivals back to deal-making. His research has put him in the room with street gang leaders and African dictators, British football hooligans and drug kingpins--experiences that combine with his insights from political science, economics, and psychology in his new book, Why We Fight: The Roots of War and the Paths to Peace.David Priess hosts this long and fascinating conversation with Blattman about his hands-on field work, his framework for understanding why groups do and do not choose violence, and what it all means for practical efforts at conflict avoidance and resolution. Along the way, they find their way from the Godfather films to game theory to the U.S. wars with Iraq--and, most of all, they relate much of it to the current war between Russia and Ukraine.Chatter is a production of Lawfare and Goat Rodeo. This episode was produced and edited by Cara Shillenn of Goat Rodeo. Podcast theme by David Priess, featuring music created using Groovepad. Works discussed in this episode:The book Why We Fight: The Roots of War and the Paths to Peace, by Christopher BlattmanThe Godfather movieThe Godfather II movieThe book The Insane Chicago Way: The Daring Plan by Chicago Gangs to Create a Spanish Mafia, by John HagedornBreaking Bad TV seriesThe book Beyond Plunder: Toward Democratic Governance in Liberia, by Amos Sawyer Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

Conversations with Tyler
Chris Blattman on War and Centralized Power

Conversations with Tyler

Play Episode Listen Later May 4, 2022 48:05


What causes war? Many scholars have spent their careers attempting to study the psychology of leaders to understand what incentivizes them to undertake the human and financial costs of conflict, but economist and political scientist Chris Blattman takes a different approach to understanding interstate violence. He returns for his second appearance on Conversations with Tyler to discuss his research into the political and institutional causes of conflict, the topic of his new book ​​Why We Fight: The Roots of War and The Path to Peace. Chris and Tyler also cover why he doesn't think demographics are a good predictor of a country's willingness to go to war, the informal norms that restrain nations, the dangers of responding to cyberattacks, the breakdown of elite bargains in Ethiopia, the relationship between high state capacity and war, the greatest threats to peace in Ireland, why political speech isn't usually a reliable indicator of future action, Vladimir Putin's centralized motives for invading Ukraine, why he's long on Colombia democratically – but not economically, why more money won't necessarily help the Mexican government curb cartel violence, the single-mindedness necessary for bouldering, how Harold Innis's insights about commodities led Chris to start studying war, how the University of Chicago has maintained a culture of free inquiry, and more. Email: cowenconvos@mercatus.gmu.edu Follow us on Twitter Follow us on Instagram Follow Tyler on Twitter Follow Chris on Twitter Like us on Facebook Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://go.mercatus.org/l/278272/2017-09-19/g4ms

Real Talk
April 26, 2022 - Why We Fight: Chris Blattman; Doug Griffiths; Engineering, Air, & COVID Mitigation

Real Talk

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 26, 2022 77:10


Real Talk is on the road! Ryan hosts from the beautiful Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge in Jasper, AB, where he's speaking at the Community Leaders Camp: https://13waysinc.com/camp/ 5:55 | Doug Griffiths, former Progressive Conservative minister Doug Griffiths, founding CEO of 13 Ways, Inc., talks about the state of present-day conservatism in Alberta, Jason Kenney's leadership review, and 13 pathways to success (the follow-up to Doug's book, "13 Ways To Kill Your Community". https://13waysinc.com/ 28:34 | Why are we ignoring engineers when it comes to COVID mitigation strategies? Matthew Oliver, P.Eng. explains what led to his Twitter thread earlier this week, taking aim at medical doctors and researchers mocking his colleagues working in ventilation and filtration. Thread: https://twitter.com/sameo416/status/1518418260349177856?s=20&t=BXbC3tlPgzBno5qUrC2KkQ 43:14 | Author, economist, and political scientist Chris Blattman takes us into his new book, "Why We Fight: The Roots of War and the Paths to Peace". The University of Chicago professor analyzes what's fuelling Putin's war in Ukraine, how to interrupt the evolution of conflict into war, and why NHL players' birth cities have a correlation to how violent they are on the ice. https://chrisblattman.com/why-we-fight/ 59:26 | In this week's The Leading Edge presented by Leading Edge Physio, we highlight an innovative new program at MacEwan University. The first of its kind in Canada, The Distinguished Visiting Artist in Country Music program aims to launch aspiring performers into a career in country music. https://www.macewan.ca/campus-life/news/2022/04/news-dvacm-launch-22/

The Nicole Sandler Show
20220425 Nicole Sandler Show - Republicans Gonna Lie, Russians Gonna Fight

The Nicole Sandler Show

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 25, 2022 61:29


Many of us were riveted Friday, watching Marjorie Traitor Greene testify at a hearing in GA as she lied her way an unending stream of "I don't remembers" and I don't recalls" as she channeled other ethically challenged Republicans before her, like Alberto Gonzalez' famous 72 denials of memory. Today, John Bonifaz of Free Speech for People, the group representing the plaintiffs in this and other cases challenging members of Congress who participated in the 1-6 insurrection, returns for a recap of what transpired Friday and what we've learned since. Then, as Russia's war against Ukraine enters its third unrelenting month, I'll speak with Christopher Blattman, professor of Global Conflict Studies at the University of Chicago and author of the new book, "Why We Fight: The Roots of War and the Paths to Peace"

university chicago peace war russia ukraine russian congress republicans ga paths free speech alberto gonzalez john bonifaz christopher blattman why we fight the roots global conflict studies nicole sandler
Mooch FM
Episode 87: Nina Jankowicz, Christopher Blattman & Alexander Lipton

Mooch FM

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 22, 2022 71:35


In this episode, Anthony is joined by Nina Jankowicz bestselling author and internationally-recognized expert on disinformation and democratization. Together they discuss Nina's brand-new book, How to Be a Woman Online: Surviving Abuse and Harassment, and How to Fight Back, which provides concise steps women can take to protect themselves in online spaces. Nina then moves on to share her assessment of the current situation in Russia, and their use of social media.  Next, Christopher Blattman, economist and professor of Global Conflict Studies at the University of Chicago talks with Anthony about his book Why We Fight: The Roots of War and the Paths to Peace, which lays out a framework to explain the root causes and remedies for war, showing that violence is not the norm and how the escalation can be interrupted. Christopher applies these factors to the recent war in Ukraine, the polarization in the United States, the Medellín cartel and more. Finally, Alexander Lipton, author and a global head of Quantitative Research & Development at the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, joins Anthony to discuss what initially sparked his interest in Blockchain. They unpack Alexander's new textbook with co-author Adrien Treccani, Blockchain and Distributed Ledgers: Mathematics, Technology and Economics, discussing all things distributed ledger technology (DLT), and its potential impact on society at large.Follow our guests on Twitter: https://twitter.com/wiczipedia https://twitter.com/cblatts Subscribe on YouTube: //bit.ly/3ICdZXx Follow us:https://twitter.com/moochfm  https://twitter.com/scaramucci  Sign up for our newsletter at:www.mooch.fm Created & produced by Podcast Partners:www.podcastpartners.com 

Facepalm America
Why We Fight

Facepalm America

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 22, 2022 34:08


Good news from the American South, bad news for Lucky Charms, and an interview with Christopher Blattman, author of the new book, Why We Fight: The Roots of War and the Paths to Peace.

The Charlie Brennan Show with Amy Marxkors
Radiant or Radioactive? - C&A

The Charlie Brennan Show with Amy Marxkors

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 21, 2022 36:28


Amy Marxkors is joined by Chris Rongey, who is sitting in for Charlie Brennan this morning, they talk to Amy's Aunt and Uncle who are on a cruise in Eastern Europe, they're also joined by Dan Farrell, Cardinals Sr. Vice President of Sales & Marketing, and author of WHY WE FIGHT: The Roots of War and the Paths to Peace, Christopher Blattman calls in to tell us about his book, later, Debbie Monterrey joins the conversation and there are mixed feelings about Julia Roberts. 

The Charlie Brennan Show with Amy Marxkors
Conflict Throughout the Ages - Christopher Blattman on C&A

The Charlie Brennan Show with Amy Marxkors

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 21, 2022 11:21


Chris and Amy are joined by Christopher Blattman, who is an author, economist, professor and political scientist, to discuss his new book, Why We Fight: The Roots of War and the Paths to Peace. 

peace war economy ages paths political scientists christopher blattman why we fight the roots
Charter Cities Podcast
Tackling Poverty and Preventing War with Chris Blattman

Charter Cities Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 19, 2022 75:32


The Ukraine-Russia conflict has dominated headlines over the past few months, with countless theories and hypotheses being touted to explain Russia's aggression. Join us as we talk to one of the world's leading experts on violence and politics, Professor Chris Blattman. We start the episode with an explanation of why Chris chose to write his latest book Why We Fight: The Roots of War and the Paths to Peace, and how he can apply the logic within to explain Putin's motivations and behavior. We learn why peace is a better driver for innovation and competition than war, and what Chris feels about the controversial observations made by John Mearsheimer about the Ukraine-Russia conflict. Tune in to learn what the George Washington example is, and the role of the COVID-19 pandemic in the rising levels of violence within the USA. We next move on to the role of CBT in reducing violence across the globe, with some insightful examples of Mr. Rogers-like personas across Africa who Chris has worked with. This episode is jam-packed with tons of fascinating insights into current affairs, how to best tackle poverty, theoretical debate and so much more. Join us today as we talk to a true role model and thought leader on another episode of the Charter Cities podcast.   Key Points From This Episode:   •   An introduction to Chris Blattman, author, economist, political scientist, expert on violence, and seasoned peacebuilder. •   The inspiration behind why Chris wrote Why We Fight: The Roots of War and the Paths to Peace. •   Chris's response to John Mearsheimer's observations on the Ukraine-Russia conflict. •   Why Chris is content that his book was published before Russia invaded Ukraine. •   The five logics of war applied to the Ukraine-Russia conflict: unchecked interests, intangible incentives, uncertainty, commitment problems, and misperceptions. •   Why Chris feels that peace drives competition and innovation better than war. •   The George Washington example: what it means and how it can be applied to other situations. •   Why Chris is interested in applying Machiavellian logic to his research and blogging. •   How the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted levels of violence within the USA, and why. •   Why the Mr. Rogers principle is so effective, and examples Chris has come across in other countries. •   CBT and how it can be applied to reduce poverty. •   The monetary values associated with CBT across different cultures. •   Why oversimplifying complex problems is bad for the solution, and why including locals in the solution is key to success. •   An example of one of Chris' RCTs that failed! •   Why Chris feels that he might have had a larger impact on society if he had moved into consulting in Africa. •   The factors that helped to make the Harris School the success it is today. •   Why Chris thinks giving cash is more effective at reducing poverty than other interventions. •   How decentralizing power will be the ultimate solution to poverty. •   Chris's thoughts on the Charter Cities Institute and goals. •   Where Chris is now, and the issues he will be researching in the next five years.     Links Mentioned in Today's Episode:   https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisblattman/ (Chris Blattman on LinkedIn) https://chrisblattman.com/ (Chris Blattman) https://chrisblattman.com/why-we-fight/ (Why We Fight: The Roots of War and the Paths to Peace) https://www.amazon.com/Better-Angels-Our-Nature-Violence/dp/0143122010 (The Better Angels of Our Nature: Why Violence Has Declined) https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-tilley-obe-a242501b8/?originalSubdomain=uk (Charles Tilley on LinkedIn)...

Global Dispatches -- World News That Matters
The Five Reasons Countries Go to War (And How to Avoid Them) | Chris Blattman

Global Dispatches -- World News That Matters

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 18, 2022 32:02


The economist Chris Blattman is well known in academic and policy circles for his research and writing on peace, conflict and economic development. Chris Blattman is a professor at the Harris School of Public Policy at the University of Chicago and he is out with a brand new book, Why We Fight: The Roots of War and the Paths to Peace. The book boils down decades of social science around peace and conflict, using examples throughout history, to explain why groups resort to war. This book is a highly accessible way for the general public to understand what many academics know about war and peace.  On May 3rd, the Harry Frank Guggenheim Foundation will host a book event with Chris Blattman both virtually and in person in New York City. If you are interested in attending this event, you can register here. 

Keen On Democracy
Christopher Blattman: The Five Reasons Why Putin Went to War in Ukraine

Keen On Democracy

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 15, 2022 39:35


Hosted by Andrew Keen, Keen On features conversations with some of the world's leading thinkers and writers about the economic, political, and technological issues being discussed in the news, right now. In this episode, Andrew is joined by Christopher Blattman, author of Why We Fight: The Roots of War and the Paths to Peace. Christopher Blattman is the Ramalee E. Pearson Professor of Global Conflict Studies at the University of Chicago, where he co-leads the Development Economics Center and directs the Obama Foundation Scholars program. His work on violence, crime, and poverty has been widely covered by The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, Forbes, Slate, Vox, and NPR. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices