Published May 9, 2022

Chris Blattman on Why We Fight

Chris Blattman delves into the economic, strategic, and psychological dimensions of conflict, unveiling how private incentives, group decision-making pitfalls, and behavioral biases drive the decision to engage in war, challenging simplistic narratives with historical and contemporary insights.

Episode Highlights

Topics covered

Episode Highlights

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Dexa/Russ Roberts

Chris Blattman on Why We Fight

Topics covered

Popular Clips

The Probability of War

Writing a Book

Unpredictable Geopolitical Events

Understanding Human Violence

Private Incentives

The Power of Dignity

Unexplored Motivations

The Commitment Problem

Understanding Violence

Avoiding Costly Conflict

Understanding Commitment Problems

The Cost of War

Decision Making and Worst Case Scenarios

Misunderstanding and Appeasement

Episode Highlights

Economic Influences

Decision Making in Conflict

Psychology of War

Related Episodes

Gary Shiffman on the Economics of Violence

Chris Blattman on Chickens, Cash, and Development Economics

Claudia Hauer on War, Education, and Strategic Humanism

Bruce Bueno de Mesquita on the Spoils of War

Is This War With Lebanon Different? (with Matti Friedman)

Chris Blattman on Sweatshops

Christopher Coyne on Exporting Democracy after War

Eric Jacobus on the Art and Science of Violence

Barry Weingast on the Violence Trap

Reading, Writing, and Fighting (with Mark Helprin)

Arnold Kling on the Three Languages of Politics

Chris Blattman on Cash, Poverty, and Development

Richard Robb on Willful

Barry Weingast on Violence, Power and a Theory of Nearly Everything

Walter Williams on Life, Liberty and Economics

Chris Blattman on Why We Fight

Topics covered

Popular Clips

Episode Highlights

Economic InfluencesChris Blattman explores the economic and strategic factors that influence decisions to engage in war. He examines how the costs of war and private incentives shape conflicts, using historical and contemporary examples.

Economic Influences

Decision Making in Conflict

Psychology of WarChris Blattman explores the psychological underpinnings of conflict, emphasizing how misperceptions, dignity, and behavioral biases shape decision-making. He reveals the complexities behind why rivalries escalate into violence, challenging simplistic narratives.

Psychology of War

Related Episodes