To Decry Conflict is to Ignore History

I am lawyer (Queen’s Counsel) with a love for history and have also published several books. In between writing articles about legal developments, I write articles with a historical perspective.

Here is one I wrote recently trying to put the notion of ‘conflict’ in a historical context and concluding that with man’s individualism and innate desire to improve and compete (not to mention dominate and control), a society without conflict would not only be a utopian ideal but would mark the end of humanity as we have known it. Indeed, as in the Italian Renaissance, when the individual has taken centre stage, the ideal of ‘competition’ in all its splendour (itself a form of conflict) flourished. Or is this just lawyer speak?

Read the full article and see what you think, or simply keep yourself informed on some of the latest developments in law and practice instead on my LinkedIn page.

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Whilst we tend to dismiss conflict as unnecessary and unproductive, the reality is quite different, and to acknowledge this fact is not to glorify conflict. Indeed, and although not to be judged by modern standards, much of our history was actually forged in conflict. Many of the achievements we marvel at today were also made possible by conflict. Without conflict there would be no competition, no diversity, no individual and indeed even no democracy. medium.com/...