Are human brains wired for war?

Are human brains wired for war?

Author: The Watson School January 29, 2026 Duration: 38:48

Violent, organized conflict is a near constant in human history.

But why?

Often, large-scale conflicts and wars are explained in material or political terms: humans engaging in conflict over land, resources, or ideologies.

But as Rose McDermott, the David and Marianna Fisher University Professor of International Relations, sees it, these explanations fail to fully account for war’s existence and persistence throughout the long history of our species.

To do that, McDermott argues that we need to take more seriously the ways that human psychology — shaped by our evolution as a species — predisposes some of us to violence.

On this episode, Dan Richards spoke with Rose McDermott about how millennia of human evolution have wired our brains — particularly male brains — for war; what this means for modern society; and how we might think about building structures and institutions to help chart a new, more peaceful path for humanity.


From the Watson School at Brown University, Trending Globally: Politics and Policy brings the insights of leading scholars and practitioners directly into your ears. This award-winning podcast digs into the complex forces shaping our world, moving beyond headlines to understand the deeper political and policy decisions behind them. Each conversation is designed to unpack a pressing issue-whether it's international trade tensions, public health crises, or social movements-with clarity and depth. You'll hear experts from the Watson Institute and beyond explain not just what's happening, but why it matters and how different policies might change the course of events. The discussions are grounded in rigorous research yet remain accessible, turning daunting global topics into understandable and engaging dialogue. For anyone curious about the mechanics of power, governance, and societal change, this series offers a vital resource. It’s a direct line to some of the sharpest minds in international and public affairs, all within a format that fits into your daily routine. Find Trending Globally: Politics and Policy and add it to your listening rotation for a consistently informative perspective on the stories that define our time.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Trending Globally: Politics and Policy
Podcast Episodes
Why is this election so close? The issues and voters driving 2024 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:38
While no one knows how this November’s election is going to go in the U.S., there’s one thing most experts agree on: It’s likely going to be close. Very close. Poll after poll suggests that, especially in a few key state…
South Africa’s elections, 30 years after apartheid: part 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:31
This is the second part in our two-part series on South Africa’s politics 30 years after the election of Nelson Mandela, and with it, the end of apartheid. Around the same time as that anniversary this past spring, there…
This summer’s UK and French elections explained, with Mark Blyth [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:56
Over the course of 2024, roughly half of the world’s population will participate in national elections. On this episode, we take a closer look at two of them: this summer’s elections in the United Kingdom and France. In…
South Africa, 30 years after apartheid: part 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:28
This spring marked the thirtieth anniversary of the election of Nelson Mandela as South Africa’s president and the end of apartheid, the system of legalized racial segregation that had existed in South Africa for decades…
The surprising results of India’s election [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:49
On June 4, results came in from the largest democratic election in history. Over 640 million people voted in India’s election, which took place at over one million polling places across the country over the course of six…