Is The World Getting More Violent -- an alternative view
Steven Pinker's essay "A History of Violence" is a couple of years old but very interesting nonetheless.
The key question on our minds: Is the world getting nicer or deadlier faster? Weapons and delivery systems have evolved in such ways that "a little nicer" may not be "nice enough" to prevent catastrophe. On the other hand, perhaps the threat of annihilation will finally catalyze major changes in how civilization resolves its conflicts.
(H/T to Adam Weinrich for bringing Pinker's essay to our attention.)