Headlines around the world yell about war, terrorism, and shootings, making it feel like violence is more prevalent than ever. We think of the past as a peaceful place, and the present as a disaster. But is this really what is happening?
Violence can take many forms, such as wars, terrorism, assaults, and mass killings. Violence evolves with time as new technology develops. New weapons make killings easier. Modern media shows violence in all parts of the world. Radical groups’ ideas spread to wider audiences through this medium. Modern media and weapons can worsen the event of violence all over the world, but is this actually causing more violence or just glorifying the whole ordeal?
History is filled with wars, conquests, and empires seeking to expand. These conflicts caused the death of millions and reshaped civilizations. Many societies in history lacked human rights and faced cruel punishments for innocent crimes. Violence has been worse before, however with a lack of documentation, and people only caring about the present it is overlooked.
Looking in more modern times, the deadliest war of all time occurred; World War 2. Weapons of mass destruction have also forced warfare to adapt to this brave new world because of the fear of total destruction, or MAD (Mutually Assured Destruction). News outlets and social media platforms make violence more visible to the general public. Global data, on the other hand, shows lower violent crimes in many places.
The number of violent crimes has fallen over the years in modern countries, but the number of armed conflicts is increasing. An example of a decrease in violent crime is New York. Violent crimes in 2019 are less than half of 1990. The Battle Death Rate is declining too. In 2024 the highest number of armed conflicts in 70 years were recorded, and technology allows for more destructive weapons. Political tensions seem to be higher in recent years.
It’s not clear if violence is increasing, however. The amount of violence in the world is not linear; it fluctuates depending on the time period. The world violence today is not at its peak. Although, the number of wars/major conflicts have been increasing over the last decades. A new phase of violence might be in its early stages.
The decline in violence might mean humans are maturing. Any need for violence in the modern era is lower than in the past. As Winston Churchill said, “Those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” People today may be learning from the past to create a better future.
Our world today is less violent than it has been, but the potential for destruction is greater with new weapons and technology. Documentation of violence is leading more to a sense of more danger but also helps us learn from the past and help in the future. This goes to show that while humanity has made progress, it now depends on if they can control the tools and safeguard our future.
