1. Do our genes condemn us to war? -- 2. Some useful lessons from history -- 3. Realistic assessment of the world we live in -- 4. Two technologies that will shape the world -- 5. How culture and ecology will limit our actions -- 6. Why most strategic plans fail -- 7. Politics and diplomacy as tools for peace -- 8. Economic measures to reduce the probability of mass violence -- 9. Military capability to make and keep the peace -- 10. Necessity of hope.
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A former nuclear weapons designer discusses the increasing threat of weapons of mass destruction and offers ideas on how to construct the best practical world consistent with our human nature. Stephen M. Younger looks into the heart of humankind to present a practical plan for ending mass violence, the scourge of modern times and a threat to our survival as a species. Do our genes condemn us to ever greater acts of barbarism? Do our complex societies, so necessary to modern life, include a fundamental flaw that drives us to periodic wars and genocide? Why has an enduring peace proven so elusive? Younger understands, as few others can, our potential for violence. The proliferation of weapons of mass destruction means that any nation, group, or even individual could cause unimaginable carnage. And the accelerating pace of communications and transportation mean that things can happen faster than we can think about them. Looking across our knowledge of psychology, history, politics, and technology, Younger presents a convincing argument that we can escape our spiral into global destruction. But we haven t a moment to lose.