A Natural History of Peace

January 14, 2006 8:55 AM

Bonobo sex is the prurient highlight of primatology conferences, and leads parents to shield their children’s eyes when watching nature films. Bonobos have sex in every conceivable position and some seemingly inconceivable ones, in pairs and groups, between genders and within genders, to greet each other and to resolve conflicts, to work off steam after a predator scare, to celebrate finding food or cajole its sharing, or just because.

A Natural History of Peace. Yes, it's about apes. More generally though, it is about foreign policy and international security.
posted by panoptican (7 comments total)

That quote isn't particularly representative of the article. It just made me laugh.

[via ArmsControlWonk]
posted by panoptican at 8:58 AM on January 14, 2006

Best of the Web. Thanks.
posted by killdevil at 9:24 AM on January 14, 2006

This is a double, but certainly worth reading if you missed it the first time.
posted by maryh at 9:31 AM on January 14, 2006

Definately best of the web. For me the best quote is:

"Are there any lessons to be learned here that can be applied to human-on-human violence -- apart, that is, from the possible desirability of giving fatal cases of tuberculosis to aggressive people?"
posted by [expletive deleted] at 9:34 AM on January 14, 2006

I'd like to learn some lessons about those seemingly inconceivable positions...
posted by anthill at 9:48 AM on January 14, 2006

Different apes are different, besides I believe bonobos can be violent at times, they can certainly try to scare and intimidate each other.
posted by delmoi at 10:23 AM on January 14, 2006

I got all excited because I thought it was about BoBo sex, and was expecting, I dunno, gang bangs with sexay people covered in organic hummus made in a Kitchenaide mixer.

Great post, though, once I got over it.
posted by freebird at 10:27 AM on January 14, 2006