Richard Overy, Honorary Research Professor of History at the University of Exeter and best-selling author, speaks with John Bell about the many causes of war, from evolutionary biology to the hubris of today’s leaders. They discuss evolutionary psychology as well as how the pursuit of innate needs such as security or meaning - through belief, religious or ideological - can lead to war.

Professor Ovary is one of Britain’s most distinguished historians and has published extensively on the Second World War and the Third Reich. His latest book, the excellent ‘Why War?’, explores why warfare has been endemic throughout human history and what this means for the future. ‘Why War?’ will soon be available in paperback edition.