Yuval Noah Harari: 'There is a battle for the soul of the Israeli nation'

Summary

Yuval Noah Harari, historian and author, discusses his latest children's book series 'Unstoppable Us,' aimed at explaining history to children during uncertain times. Harari reflects on how current societal and technological changes make it difficult for adults to guide younger generations. He explores historical contexts behind fear, pandemics, and warfare, stressing the role of choice in human conflicts. Harari emphasizes the importance of resilience and emotional intelligence to cope with rapid change, while also discussing pressing global issues, such as military budgets, the Israel-Palestine conflict, and the challenges of peace-building.

Takeaways

• 📚 The latest book series by Yal focuses on educating children about history to help them navigate an uncertain future.
• 🧠 Adults today are not good guides for the future because they don't know how the world will look in 10 or 20 years due to rapid changes.
• 🦁 Children's fears, like monsters under the bed, stem from historical memories of real dangers like predators from ancient times.
• 🦠 Pandemics began after the Agricultural Revolution when humans started living in crowded villages with animals, creating a breeding ground for germs.
• ⚔️ Wars are not inevitable or part of human nature; they often stem from imagined stories or ideologies, not necessities like food or territory.
• 🕊️ Despite historical narratives of conflict, such as between Israelis and Palestinians, change is possible, and humans can break vicious cycles of war.
• 📉 Over time, military spending has decreased in many countries, replaced by investments in healthcare and education, though this trend is now reversing.
• 🇮🇱 In Israel, there is a battle for the soul of the nation, balancing between patriotism and dangerous ideas of Jewish supremacy.
• 🎯 The elimination of Hamas' military capabilities is seen as necessary, but eliminating the ideology behind it is unrealistic.
• 💡 The future job market and social structures are highly unpredictable due to AI and other technologies, so emotional intelligence and adaptability will be key skills for future generations.

Q & A

Why did the author feel it was important to write for children at this moment in history?

The author felt it was important to write for children because, for the first time, adults are not reliable guides for the future. With the rapid pace of change and uncertainty about what the world will look like when today's children become adults, history is a valuable tool to help children understand the world.

How does history help children understand their fears, according to the author?

The author explains that many fears, such as a child's fear of monsters under the bed, stem from historical memories. These fears were once linked to real dangers, like wild animals that threatened human survival. Understanding the historical roots of these emotions can help children make sense of their fears.

What is the author's perspective on the cause of wars in human history?

The author argues that most wars are not caused by fights over food or territory but by imagined stories and ideologies. These narratives, such as religious or nationalistic stories, drive people to fight, even when resources are not the issue.

Why does the author believe wars are not inevitable?

The author believes that wars are human choices and not driven by natural forces, like wolves or chimpanzees fighting for territory. Wars are largely influenced by the stories people tell themselves, and this means they are avoidable if humans change their narratives.

What historical evidence does the author give to show that war is a relatively recent phenomenon?

The author mentions that the first archaeological evidence of warfare is from about 13,000 years ago in the Nile Valley. Before that, there is no evidence of warfare, suggesting it is not an innate or ancient part of human behavior.

How does the author use state budgets to measure the level of violence in the world?

The author points out that historically, most state budgets were dedicated to military spending. However, in the early 21st century, military spending worldwide dropped to about 7%, while health care spending rose to 10%, indicating a shift away from prioritizing violence. This trend, however, is now reversing as military budgets increase again.

What does the author suggest is the key to understanding the current war between Israel and Hamas?

The author emphasizes that understanding the political aims behind the war is crucial. Wars are a continuation of politics, and without knowing the goals of the conflict, it is difficult to evaluate the outcomes or understand the motivations of those involved.

What is the author's greatest concern regarding Israel?

The author is most concerned about the internal battle for the soul of the Israeli nation, specifically between patriotism and the rise of Jewish supremacy. This struggle threatens the foundational principles of the secular nationalism that built Israel.

Why does the author believe eliminating Hamas is unrealistic?

The author believes that eliminating Hamas completely is unrealistic because it is a political movement and ideology. The more practical goal would be to eliminate its military capabilities, but a long-term solution requires offering Palestinians a better future to counter Hamas' influence.

What does the author suggest is the most important skill for future generations?

The author believes that emotional intelligence and psychological resilience are the most important skills for future generations. Given the rapid pace of change in the world, individuals will need to continually reinvent themselves and adapt throughout their lives.