Waveland Press - The Anthropology of War by Keith F. Otterbein

Keith Otterbein, a long-time authority on anthropological studies of warfare, provides a rich synthesis of theory, literature, and findings developed by anthropologists and scholars from other disciplines.

This in-depth—yet concise—look at warfare opens with two well-known ethnographic examples of warring peoples: the Dani and the Yanomamö. The origins and evolution of war, types of warfare, weapons and tactics, military organizations, and the social bases of war structure discussions within the text. Analyses of historical events and case studies inform readers of different perspectives about why people go to war, how societies can be identified as having war, the elements necessary for war, and how war might be avoided. Otterbein concludes the text by presenting the concept of “Positive Peace”—promoting peace as a goal of human existence—as a way for humans to eliminate the fatal consequences of war.

"Concise but detailed overview of traditional approaches to the anthropology of war by one of the foremost authorities on the subject in an affordable textbook." -- Leslie Sponsel, University of Hawaii-Manoa

“Gets to the heart of the matter—the real reasons for war as opposed to the political catch phrases. Highly recommended.” — John Lewis, Wilmington College

“This book is an excellent one-volume overview of the history and contemporary analysis of the anthropology of war and warfare. It situates the anthropological views on war within wider domains of violence, but never loses sight of the critical data and analysis that anthropologists have provided on the causes, functions, effects, practices, and meanings of war in societies across the globe.” — Thomas M. Wilson, SUNY Binghamton University

“An excellent introduction to the phenomenon of war. Concise, clear, well thought-out, and nicely organized. It is easily understandable and suitable for both lower- and upper-division classes.” — Robert Chisholm, Columbia Basin College

“Otterbein demonstrates how the clarity of anthropological thinking can explain the behavior—continually exhibited through historic times and over wide geographical regions—in which humans risked their own lives in the seemingly senseless goal of killing their neighbors.” — Thomas S. Abler, University of Waterloo

1. Introduction: What Is the Anthropology of War?
The Basics / Famous Warring Peoples

2. Weapons and Tactics
Weapons / Tactics / Basic Patterns of Combat / Casualties

3. Military Organizations
Polities and Their Military Organizations / Why Polities and Their Military Organizations Go to War / Causes and Consequences of War

4. War and Its Cousins
Types of Warfare / Seven Cousins of Warfare / Levels of Armed Combat

5. Foundations of War
Biological Characteristics that Facilitate War / Social Characteristics that Facilitate War / Development of Territoriality

6. Origins of War: Two Paths
Hunter-Gatherer Warfare / Primary State Warfare

7. The Evolution of War
Warfare Systems / Secondary State Warfare

8. The Termination and Prevention of War
Causes and Outcomes of War / The Dilemma of Disarming—and Arming / Prevention of War

Appendix: 40 Warring Peoples

Glossary