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

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.