Margaret MacMillan and Peter Frankopan on How War Has Shaped Humanity

Intelligence Squared

News, Society & Culture, Arts, News Commentary

4.2 • 1.2K Ratings

🗓️ 17 November 2020

⏱️ 55 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

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 Executive Producer Rowan Slaney and Daisy Moll — We’d love to hear your feedback and what you think we should talk about next, who we should have on and what our future debates should be about. Send us an email or voice note with your thoughts to podcasts@intelligencesquared.com or Tweet us at @intelligence2. At Intelligence Squared we’ve got our own online streaming platform, Intelligence Squared+ and we’d love you to give it a go. It’s packed with more than 20 years’ worth of video debates and conversations on the world’s most important topics as well as exclusive podcast content. Tune in to live events, ask your questions or watch on-demand, totally ad-free with hours of discussion to dive into. Visit intelligencesquaredplus.com to start watching today Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	So you've arrived you head to the brasserie then the terrace cocktail don't mind if I do
0:08.4	You raise your glass to another guest because you both know the holidays just beginning.
0:14.0	And you're only in Terminal 3.
0:18.0	Welcome to Virgin Atlantic's unique upper class clubhouse experience
0:22.0	where you'll feel like you've arrived before you've taken off.
0:26.0	Virgin Atlantic, see the world differently.
0:30.0	During World War II, my great-granddad, George Arthur Roberts, was awarded for his bravery fighting fires night after night.
0:38.0	Thanks to him and his fellow volunteers, there was a city to wake up to.
0:42.0	This remembrance, discover your family's wartime story free with ancestry.
0:47.0	Until the 13th of November, enjoy unlimited free searches of all global wartime records.
0:53.4	Visit ancestry and register with just your name and email
0:56.2	to start discovering today.
0:58.1	Author ends the 13th of November.
1:00.8	Whether it's an under the radar genre or a proper out there podcast, sometimes it's better when you get weird, especially when it comes to switching up your soft drink, introducing new Dr Pepper Zero.
1:12.6	With the same blend of 23 unique flavors,
1:15.6	it tastes just as weird as regular Dr Pepper,
1:19.1	but with zero sugar and zero calories.
1:21.9	It's a taste you can't quite put your finger on.
1:24.4	Weird. But in a surprisingly good way, try more weird with Dr Pepper Zero. Welcome to Intelligence Squared. I'm Senior Producer Connor Boyle. In today's
1:39.2	podcast we're examining war with distinguished historian Margaret McMillan, exploring how it has
1:45.2	profoundly impacted societies, political institutions, values, language, and some of our greatest
1:51.3	cultural treasures.
	...

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