War itself is never good and it was even if you're on the right side. Even the right side will do things that are cruel and wicked. I think Britain was right to fight in the Second World War because the alternative would have been so much worse. The greatest social equality in a number of countries came as a result of two world wars, which depressed the differences between the Poles and society. We shouldn't have to need a war or a pandemic to make some of the changes we make. But it does seem typical of human nature that we need a big catastrophe to really focus our attention on sorts of things we need to come through it.
War - Do we care enough? In this episode, distinguished historian Margaret MacMillan explains why we should care about war and how it’s profoundly impacted our societies, political institutions, values, language and some of our greatest cultural treasures.
In conversation with bestselling author and historian Peter Frankopan, MacMillan examines questions such as why warriors are typically men, what role women play, why there are wars with no clear objective or ending, and how non-state actors influence outcomes. Drawing on the themes of MacMillan’s book, 'War: How Conflict Shaped Us', the two also discuss the benefits of war, including votes for women, penicillin, and (arguably) nuclear power. Listen now to discover how war has shaped our past and will continue to shape our future.
This event was recorded in November 2020 and produced by Senior Producer Conor Boyle with editing by Daisy Moll
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