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The evolutionary anthropology of war

Author

Listed:
  • Luke Glowacki

    (IAST - Institute for Advanced Study in Toulouse)

  • Michael Wilson

    (Unknown)

  • Richard Wrangham

    (Unknown)

Abstract

Evolutionary anthropologists seek to understand the evolution of warfare across multiple timescales, from the roots of warfare in the intergroup aggression of our primate ancestors, to the causes of warfare among contemporary societies today. While warfare remains a contentious subject, considerable evidence supports the view that warfare is a strategy by which coalitions of males cooperate to acquire and defend resources necessary for reproduction. This strategy is not the result of a single "instinct" for war, but is instead an emergent property resulting from evolved psychological mechanisms (such as xenophobia and parochial altruism). These mechanisms are sensitive to ecological and social conditions, such that the prevalence and patterns of warfare vary according to subsistence strategies, military technology, cultural institutions, and political and economic relations. When economic conditions enable intergroup relations to change from zero-sum to positive-sum games, peaceful intergroup relations can emerge.

Suggested Citation

  • Luke Glowacki & Michael Wilson & Richard Wrangham, 2020. "The evolutionary anthropology of war," Post-Print hal-03176490, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:hal-03176490
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jebo.2017.09.014
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Ennio Bilancini & Leonardo Boncinelli & Sebastian Ille & Eugenio Vicario, 2022. "Memory retrieval and harshness of conflict in the hawk–dove game," Economic Theory Bulletin, Springer;Society for the Advancement of Economic Theory (SAET), vol. 10(2), pages 333-351, October.
    2. Zachary Garfield & Ryan Schacht & Emily Post & Dominique Ingram & Andrea Uehling & Shane Macfarlan, 2021. "The content and structure of reputation domains across human societies: a view from the evolutionary social sciences," Post-Print hal-03368986, HAL.
    3. Gershman, Boris & Mumladze, Tinatin, 2024. "Headhunting and warfare in Austronesia: A phylogenetic comparative analysis," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 220(C), pages 768-791.
    4. Boulu-Reshef, Béatrice & Schulhofer-Wohl, Jonah, 2022. "The impact of distance on parochial altruism: An experimental investigation," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).
    5. Cheikbossian, Guillaume, 2021. "The evolutionary stability of in-group altruism in productive and destructive group contests," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 188(C), pages 236-252.
    6. Crouse, Kristin N. & Desai, Nisarg P. & Cassidy, Kira A. & Stahler, Erin E. & Lehman, Clarence L. & Wilson, Michael L., 2022. "Larger territories reduce mortality risk for chimpanzees, wolves, and agents: Multiple lines of evidence in a model validation framework," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 471(C).
    7. Mironova, Vera & Whitt, Sam, 2021. "Conflict and parochialism among combatants and civilians: Evidence from Ukraine," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 86(C).
    8. Bilancini, Ennio & Boncinelli, Leonardo & Marcos-Prieto, Pablo, 2024. "Conflict initiation function shapes the evolution of persistent outcomes in group conflict," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).

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