Primitive Militarism

In: Journal of peace research, Volume 12, Issue 1, p. 55-62

Abstract

A review of the literature on primitive militarism revealed some inconsistency between Q. Wright's conclusion that more primitive people were less warlike (A STUDY OF WAR, Chicago, Ill: U of Chicago Press, 1965) & E. W. Russell's conclusion that primitive militarism was related to personality but not to culture ("Factors of Human Aggression," Behavior Science Notes, 1972, 7, 275-312). In an attempt to resolve this inconsistency, the present study was designed to view militarism in relation to other variables provided in R. B. Textor's cross-cultural summary of anthropological studies (A CROSS-CULTURAL SUMMARY, New Haven, Conn: Human Relations Area Files, 1967). Primitive militarism was related to geographical region, cultural development, personal discipline, sexual repression, & narcissism. The anthropological correlates of militarism among primitive societies were similar to the psychological correlates of militarism among modern individuals. Primitive militarism emerged as a function of both culture & personality. The anthropological findings, like those from modern attitude studies, suggested 3 basic variables contributing to war in primitive cultures as well as modern societies: Private property, frustrated personality, & egoistic morality. 1 Table. Modified HA.