The Causes of Peace: What We Know Now

Almost a decade after Steven Pinker published his seminal book The Better Angels of Our Nature and popularised interest in the idea that humanity is becoming more peaceful, the debate is as heated as ever. Attempting to summarise current conclusions on what actually causes peace, this book unites many of the world’s greatest thinkers on the sources of human conflict. Debate over whether the world is getting more peaceful is followed by commanding discussions of the influence of hegemony, democracy, ideology, nuclear weapons, and institutions.

Featuring Niall Ferguson, Nassim Nicholas Taleb, Ned Lebow, Bruce Russett, Paul Collier and many others, The Causes of Peace: What We Know Now provides uniquely qualified insight into the present status of this age-old question. An authoritative guide to the state of the art, this book is of interest to all students of human conflict.

Asle Toje, Member of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, Oslo
Asle Toje is the former research director at the Norwegian Nobel Institute. He has a PhD in International Studies from the University of Cambridge (2006). Among his last works are 'America, the EU and Strategic Culture' (Routledge, 2008); 'The European Union as a Small Power' (Macmillan, 2010); 'Neoclassical Realism in Europe' (Manchester University Press, 2012); and 'Will China's Rise Be Peaceful?: The Rise of a Great Power in Theory, History, Politics, and the Future' (Oxford University Press, 2018). Toje is a serving member of the Norwegian Nobel Committee.

Bård Nikolas Vik Steen, Programme Manager, the Norwegian Nobel Institute, Oslo
Bård Nikolas Vik Steen is the Programme Manager of the Norwegian Nobel Institute. Steen received his education from Durham University and the University of Oslo. His current research interests include nuclear disarmament and the relationship between geopolitics, hegemonic change, and war. His latest publications include 'Nuclear Disarmament: A Critical Assessment' (Routledge, 2019), co-edited with Olav Njølstad.