Warless societies and the origin of war

University of Michigan Press • Ann Arbor • Published In • Pages: ??•
By Kelly, Raymond C.

Abstract

This book examines the difference between warless and warlike societies and attempts to determine the point at which a society becomes warlike. The author suggests that differences between warless and warlike societies are mostly organizational and hypothesizes that "unsegmented" societies, or societies that have a weaker sense of group identity and cohesion, will be more likely to be warless than "segmented" societies. Several tests are presented. Results generally support the hypothesis.

Note

Cross cultural tests are carried out in Chapter 2, "Warless and Warlike Hunter-Gatherers: A Comparison."

Samples

Sample Used Coded Data Comment
Standard Cross Cultural Sample (SCCS)Other Researchers
Atlas of World Cultures (AWC)Other Researchers

Hypotheses (8)

HypothesisSupported
Fabbro's (1978) peaceful societies will disproportionately tend to be unsegmented societies (49).Supported
Unsegmented societies will have a lower frequency of warfare than segmented societies (51).Supported
In unsegmented societies retaliatory vengeance will be directed toward the perpetrator of a homicide or assault, in segmented societies vengeance will be directed toward the perpetrators family, bilateral kin, or local group (54).Supported
The presence of marriage payments will be positively associated with kin group member liability to vengeance (60).Supported
Marriage practices pertaining to exogamy will be positively related to frequency of internal and external warfare (62).Supported
Mobility will be negatively associated with frequency of warfare (65).Not Supported
Food storage will be positively related to frequency of warfare (69).Supported
Population density will be positively associated with frequency of warfare (71).Not Supported
Documents and Hypotheses Filed By: Megan Farrer