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Dwyer discussed the destruction of the Bamiyan Buddhas in 2001 and how it brought the question of iconoclasm and cultural heritage into stark relief for the first time in many years.

Drawing on a wide variety of examples that range from ancient Egypt through to contemporary debates about the removal of modern political and military icons, Dwyer presents iconoclasm as both a religious and a political act that cuts across time and historical boundaries.

"Iconoclasm as an act of forgetting can tell us a great deal about how we prefer to remember the past, and what kind of societies we want to build in the future. As a form of violence, one that has existed throughout recorded history, it is central to understanding humanity’s cultural legacy."

The lecture is part of the 'Out of the Ashes' three-year lecture series which explores the theme of cultural loss and recovery across the centuries, from the destruction of the Library of Alexandria in antiquity to contemporary acts of cultural loss and destruction.

In this episode, Philip Dwyer introduces the difficult but important topic of violence and addresses the truth behind the claims that society is becoming less violent.

In The Better Angels of Our Nature Harvard psychologist Steven Pinker argued that modern history has witnessed a dramatic decline in human violence of every kind, and that in the present we are experiencing the most peaceful time in human history. But what do top historians think about Pinker's reading of the past? Does his argument stand up to historical analysis?

In Philip Dwyer and Mark Micale's book The Darker Angels of Our Nature: Refuting the Pinker Theory of History & Violence (Bloomsbury, 2021), seventeen scholars of international stature evaluate Pinker's arguments and find them lacking. Studying the history of violence from Japan and Russia to Native America, Medieval England and the Imperial Middle East, these scholars debunk the myth of non-violent modernity. Asserting that the real story of human violence is richer, more interesting and incomparably more complex than Pinker's sweeping, simplified narrative, this book tests, and bests, 'fake history' with expert knowledge.

We spend a lot of time arguing about the meaning and implications of words in the field of genocide studies. Buckets of ink have been spilled defining and debating words like genocide, intent, 'in part,' and crimes against humanity. Philip Dwyer and Lyndall Ryan are certainly invested in the process of careful definitions and descriptions. Theaters of Violence: Massacre, Mass Killing, and Atrocity through History (Berghahn Books, 2012)and the special issue of the Journal of Genocide Research that form the basis of our discussion are both a plea for and a move toward a thorough, theoretically sound understanding of the concept of a massacre. In doing so, they offer a thoughtful commentary on the notion of genocide and its relationship to massacres and atrocities. But these volumes are more than a theoretical engagement with a concept. They are a rich exploration of the nature of mass killing, as the subtitle puts it, throughout history. The essays here range from individual case studies to attempts to discover patterns and consistencies from the fractal landscape of violence that has typified human existence. They offer readers a chance to come to grips with the disturbing reality that human beings have always been willing to destroy other humans at exactly the moment when they are most vulnerable. A brief note for those listeners unfamiliar with the Journal of Genocide Research. The journal is one of the leading venues for researchers from a variety of academic disciplines to report on their research about genocide and related topics. It offers scholars from across the world a chance to propose new ideas, publicize new discoveries, and launch new conversations about important books or developments in the field. As such, it is a must read for those interested in new research on genocide studies.

rhizastance had the great opportunity to speak with Philip Dwyer and discuss various aspects of the history of violence. The main catalyst for our discussion was the assessment of the Darwinian understanding of global violence, which claims that violence is in decline. It is important to analyse the history of violence because ideas such as Steven Pinker's that violence has declined dramatically over time continue to influence academic and public discourse. We also discussed the intersection of violence with racism, genocide and colonialism.

More than anything else, the myth-making talents of Napoleon Bonaparte ensured his appeal and lasting reputation as a fearless and decisive military leader. But the early years showed no indication of the future destiny of France's first Revolutionary Consul. A new biography of the first thirty years of Napoleon's life has just been completed by Philip Dwyer from the University of Newcastle.

Napoleon Bonaparte is one of history's most charismatic leaders. But was he also the first modern spin doctor? A new book by historian Philip Dwyer argues that Napoleon Bonaparte was the first modern leader to use his own image to consolidate power. The book Citizen Emperor: Napoleon in Power examines how the French leader used art to maintain power and appear powerful. So how did he do that?

Professor Philip Dwyer leads the University of Newcastle's Centre for the History of Violence, focusing on a fundamental rethinking of violence in the modern world.

He took control of France in 1799 at the age of thirty following a coup of the Directory – the name given to the regime which had held power after the fall of Robespierre.  It had taken Napoleon barely three years to rise from political obscurity to become the so-called saviour of France;  a leader who convinced almost everyone to “Despair of Relying on Yourselves and Rely Only on Me’.

As biographer Philip Dwyer writes: “Bonaparte succeeded where other revolutionary governments did not because he deployed larger numbers of regular troops to quash resistance.........and of course Bonaparte knew how to take the credit for all these successes.”

This was just after the successful coup, and yet despite the wars, and his fall from grace, Bonaparte remains one of the world’s most enduring figures. In fact it’s estimated that over 70,000 books have been written about Napoleon since his death in 1821.

Exiled in the wake of Waterloo, Napoleon manages to rewrite his own history, reinventing himself in the eyes of an adoring public and giving rise to the hero worship that followed his death at the age of 52.

In the final instalment of his trilogy, historian Philip Dwyer takes a look at the man behind the myth of Napoleon Bonaparte.

In the wake of the Christchurch terror attack, it is clear that terrorism and violence can come from any ideology, secular or religious, and across the cultural spectrum – and more than just an internet connection is required to give rise to such horror.

But what drives this violent behaviour?

Professor Philip Dwyer from the University of Newcastle and runs the Centre for the History of Violence.

He speaks with Aaron Kearney.