Season 4, Episode 8: Prof. Lauren Benton, They Called it Peace: Worlds of Imperial Violence

Send us Fan MailJoin Professor Jeffrey Sachs and American historian Lauren Benton for a discussion on the hidden histories of empires and the lasting impact of imperial violence. In her book, They Called It Peace: Worlds of Imperial Violence Benton uncovers how European powers built and maintained their empires through relentless cycles of raiding, slaving, and plunder—while portraying their conquests as missions of order and peace.Together, they explore the brutal mechanics of colonial expansion, the blurred lines between war and peace, and how fragile truces paved the way for endless conflict. Was imperial violence an aberration, or did it set the stage for the perpetual wars that define our world today? With insights spanning centuries and continents, this episode confronts the uncomfortable truths about power, violence, and the myths that continue to shape global order.The Book Club with Jeffrey Sachs is brought to you by the SDG Academy, the flagship education initiative of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network. Learn more and get involved at bookclubwithjeffreysachs.org.Footnotes:ImperialismInternational LawEmpiresHistory of WarsLaw of WarLong 19th CenturyState of Exception Perpetual WarReconquistaExterminatory Violence1492: Conquest of ParadiseWar TruecesInformal EmpireNeocolonialismBritish Merchants Policing The Dividing of Africa by EuropeWar Against Tasmanian Aborigines Drone Warfare⭐️ Thanks for listening to Book Club with Jeffrey Sachs!📚 Join the conversation and go deeper into the ideas shaping our world.➡️ Watch the conversation on YouTube ➡️ Subscribe to the newsletter for episode updates, readings, and behind-the-scenes insights: https://bit.ly/subscribeBCJS➡️ Explore past episodes, show notes, and featured books: https://bookclubwithjeffreysachs.org🎧 Download and subscribe on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode.📣 Love the show? Leave a rating and review - it helps more listeners find the podcast.🔁 Share this episode with a friend, colleague, or book club who’d enjoy the discussion!