Humanity: A Moral History of the Twentieth Century

This book delves into the intersection of history and morality in the twentieth century, exploring the psychological forces behind some of the most harrowing events of the modern era. From Hiroshima to the Nazi genocide, the Gulag, the Chinese Cultural Revolution, Pol Pot's Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia, and beyond, it examines the atrocities that have shaped our world.

The Psychology of Modern War and Responsibility

In the context of modern technological warfare:

• Victims are distant and responsibility is fragmented.
• Scientists who created the atomic bomb viewed their role as merely providing a weapon, leaving its use to society.
• Those who dropped the bomb claimed they were "only obeying orders."
• The political decision-making process was so complex that no single politician could be held fully accountable.

As a result, no one involved saw themselves as directly causing the horrors of Hiroshima.

Tribalism and Systems of Belief

Jonathan Glover explores the role of tribalism and belief systems in enabling atrocities:

• In Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia, people who once coexisted became ensnared in cycles of mutual fear and hatred.
• In Stalin's Russia, Mao's China, and Cambodia, belief systems created environments where atrocities became possible.
• The analysis of Nazism highlights the potent mix of tribalism and belief that led to unimaginable acts.

Common Patterns and Ethical Lessons

Drawing on firsthand accounts from participants, victims, and observers, Glover identifies common psychological patterns underlying these atrocities. These patterns reveal weak points in human psychology, which he argues must be addressed to prevent future horrors.

The book offers a hopeful message: by confronting the "monsters" within us, we can work towards caging and taming them, creating an ethical framework to overcome humanity's darkest tendencies.