Instead, horrifying and often seemingly pointless violence is all too common. Curle argues that much contemporary violence stems from alienation. Political processes alone cannot end such violence. I examines the nature of modern human violence. Violence is often contrasted to peace.
Violent relations are a form of unpeace.
Curle argues that human nature is not innately violent. The frustration of unhappiness produces ever more violent actions upon the unmanageable events and environments. Curle reviews forms and sources of violent conflict from early history to current times. While human nature has remained the same, contexts have changed drastically, and so then has the nature of violence. He discusses the violence of states and the role that global militarization plays in increasing violence.