Wars have been used as a means of settling territorial and other political disputes since the dawn of human civilisation. The Futility of War takes the reader through the long history of human conflict in all its forms, and considers the reasons why wars still exist today. In so doing, it offers a fascinating insight into how people in key positions of leadership have reacted to the threats and opportunities that have been presented to them.

Any discussion of this topic raises the question: “Is there something about the nature of war that makes it an ongoing necessity for mankind, or is human nature such that we are fundamentally incapable of learning from the mistakes of past generations?” These and many other thought-provoking questions are skillfully tackled by Ernest McIvor in this absorbing account of a phenomenon that has both fascinated and dogged mankind throughout human history.