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I'd say something has changed since we're currently experiencing one of the most prolonged periods of peace in the last 2000 years (Europe) [1] and generally th

by tedeh 9y ago

I'd say something has changed since we're currently experiencing one of the most prolonged periods of peace in the last 2000 years (Europe) [1] and generally the world over [2]. This could be because the "price" of conflict has gone up, but still, it is something to think about. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pax_Europaea https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pax_Europaea https://www.salon.com/2014/01/15/were_living_through_the_most_peaceful_era_in_human_history_%E2%80%94%C2%A0with_one_big_exception_partner/ https://www.salon.com/2014/01/15/were_living_through_the_mos...

jacquesm 9y ago
Except for that bit where we had a major war in former Yugoslavia. The EU is the one thing that stands between more war in Europe and where we are today. Quite a few forces are acting to split it up. Let's hope it is robust enough to withstand those attacks.
bamboozled 9y ago
Isn't there war going on in the Middle East?
- mattbierner 9y ago
  That does not change the fact that life for the average human today is, on the whole, more peaceful than at any point in recorded history. It is all too easy to lose track of this when you hear about all the horrific happening around the world every day
  - digi_owl 9y ago
    Average westerner, maybe...
    - quicklime 9y ago
      It's more than just for the average westerner, but also for the average human, isn't it? According to this, the absolute number of war-related deaths around the world has been decreasing for decades now. This is especially amazing since we've been experiencing a massive population increase since WW1. https://ourworldindata.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Wars-Long-Run-military-civilian-fatalities-from-Brecke.png https://ourworldindata.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Wars-L...
      - mysterypie 9y ago
        That's a fascinating chart. Yes, it shows that war deaths have been decreasing for decades, but it contradicts that great-grandparent's claim that "life for the average human today is more peaceful than at any point in recorded history". Looking at the red line, it seems that there have been many peaks and valleys in the last 600 years. We're in a local valley (more peaceful period) right now, but it doesn't suggest a long-term trend to me.
        digi_owl 9y ago
        Also, deaths alone do not give the whole picture. Sure, maybe fewer die. But what about the number of people displaced by war? And what about those that survive but are missing limbs etc?
boomboomsubban 9y ago
This hasn't been much more peaceful than the century following the Napoleonic Wars, which makes a lot of the political grandstanding going on terrifying.
deleted 9y ago
[deleted]

by tedeh 9y ago

jacquesm 9y ago

Except for that bit where we had a major war in former Yugoslavia. The EU is the one thing that stands between more war in Europe and where we are today. Quite a few forces are acting to split it up. Let's hope it is robust enough to withstand those attacks.

bamboozled 9y ago

Isn't there war going on in the Middle East?

mattbierner 9y ago
That does not change the fact that life for the average human today is, on the whole, more peaceful than at any point in recorded history. It is all too easy to lose track of this when you hear about all the horrific happening around the world every day
- digi_owl 9y ago
  Average westerner, maybe...
  - quicklime 9y ago
    It's more than just for the average westerner, but also for the average human, isn't it? According to this, the absolute number of war-related deaths around the world has been decreasing for decades now. This is especially amazing since we've been experiencing a massive population increase since WW1. https://ourworldindata.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Wars-Long-Run-military-civilian-fatalities-from-Brecke.png https://ourworldindata.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Wars-L...
    - mysterypie 9y ago
      That's a fascinating chart. Yes, it shows that war deaths have been decreasing for decades, but it contradicts that great-grandparent's claim that "life for the average human today is more peaceful than at any point in recorded history". Looking at the red line, it seems that there have been many peaks and valleys in the last 600 years. We're in a local valley (more peaceful period) right now, but it doesn't suggest a long-term trend to me.
      - digi_owl 9y ago
        Also, deaths alone do not give the whole picture. Sure, maybe fewer die. But what about the number of people displaced by war? And what about those that survive but are missing limbs etc?

boomboomsubban 9y ago

This hasn't been much more peaceful than the century following the Napoleonic Wars, which makes a lot of the political grandstanding going on terrifying.

deleted 9y ago

[deleted]