Loren Cobb: Part 2 - Quaker Economist, The Decline of War

Loren Cobb

Loren Cobb has an exciting and unusual job. As Aetheling International Consultants he facilitates NationLab, a simulation game helping countries of this hemisphere experience and plan for social, economic and political developments. Loren, a Quaker pacifist and mathematical sociologist, works alongside with the military to strengthen our neighbors, and keep the peace. But that is only one of the roles that Loren lives out. One of his other hats is that of editor of The Quaker Economist which is self-proclaimed as "a free electronic journal devoted to examining worldwide economic, social, and political problems as if people matter". In a recent edition, for example, Loren wrote about some intriguing extrapolations about the trend in violence over human history. Loren also mentions the relationship between trauma and militarism in his essay Speaking Truth to Trauma.

Another reference in this interview is to The Human Security Brief 2006.

Music Featured:

How Can I Keep From Singing - Enya

First Air Date

Listen & Download

Loren Cobb: Part 2 - Quaker Economist, The Decline of War

Audio file

Loren talks about broad-based studies which indicate that the human damage of war has <strong><em>declined</em></strong> on a per capital basis!
Is there a relationship between the horrible rates of alcoholism, post traumatic stress disorder and the frequency of war?
While there have been atrocities in Latin America conducted or supported by our military, including the School of the Americas, Loren reports a surprising and optimistic trend. Militaries in the USA and Latin America are focusing more and more on <strong><em>helping</em></strong> with national emergencies and the like, and the transformation has been dramatic.
With his ringside seat, Loren is to make some very insightful observations about how abuses like those at Abu Ghraib come about.

Broadcast Date(s)

Guest:

Loren Cobb

Comments

Add new comment

The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly.