We may be overdue a massive war, says a statistical analysis

Since 1945, the world has been – comparatively – peaceful, with only relatively localised wars. Some believe that this “long peace” is the beginning of a new, conflict-free era in human history. But a new analysis suggests it could just be a blip, and that another major war could be around the corner.

The long peace began after the second world war and has held for over 70 years. In his 2011 book The Better Angels of our Nature, Harvard psychologist Steven Pinker argued that if we make the right choices it…