A History of Force: Exploring the Worldwide Movement Against Habits of Coercion, Bloodshed, and Mayhem

James L. Payne

ISBN 10: 0915728176 / ISBN 13: 9780915728176

Published by Lytton Publishing Company (edition ), 2004

About this Item

It's a well-cared-for item that has seen limited use. The item may show minor signs of wear. All the text is legible, with all pages included. It may have slight markings and/or highlighting.

Seller Inventory # 0915728176-11-1

Bibliographic Details

• Title: A History of Force: Exploring the Worldwide Movement Against Habits of Coercion, Bloodshed, and Mayhem
• Publisher: Lytton Publishing Company (edition )
• Publication Date: 2004
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0915728176
• ISBN 13: 9780915728176
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: Very Good

About this title

Synopsis

Is the world becoming increasingly violent? In this remarkable study of the history of the use of force, political scientist James Payne shows that this impression is seriously misleading. The historical trend is against the use of physical force. His research covers dozens of coercive practices, from human sacrifice, war, and genocide to slavery, taxation, and capital punishment. Payne explains how the trend against force underlies political and economic changes. The development of democratic institutions requires that political leaders put violent practices like murder and revolution behind. For this reason, democracy cannot be sustained in cultures with a strong emphasis on force. Economic development also depends on a decline in violence. Markets cannot function and industry cannot thrive until civil war, mob violence, and military seizure abate. With its broad scope and vigorous writing, this exciting book offers a new perspective for interpreting the past--and for understanding the future.

About the Author

James L. Payne has taught political science at Yale, Wesleyan, Johns Hopkins and Texas A&M University. He has written widely on public affairs, with articles publishes in Reader's Digest, The Wall Street Journal, and many other publications. His recent books include a study of militarism (Why Nations Arm), an analysis of Congress (The Culture of Spending), and an exploration of social assistance (Overcoming Welfare: Expecting More from the Poor--and from Ourselves).