Roots of War and Terror

In "Roots of War and Terror," Anthony Stevens offers a deep dive into the nature and origins of armed conflicts. Combining concepts of archetype and collective unconscious with the most important evidence from behavioral and biological sciences, Stevens presents war as an ancient propensity rooted in human psychology, particularly in the psychology and anatomy of men. Stevens explains what attracts men to military professions and describes ancient techniques still used in military training camps, necessary to activate the archetype of the warrior in the male psyche. The author sheds light on how leaders persuade the populace to go to war and exposes the unconscious fantasies that can draw us all into an ultimate Armageddon. Stevens also examines ways to counteract the archetypes of war (through educational policies and the inclusion of women in the citadels of male power) and redirect them into less destructive channels. "Roots of War and Terror" is an invaluable work for anyone wishing to understand the psychological foundations of war or hoping to find ways to avoid the unimaginable catastrophe of nuclear war.