UPDATE: listen to a recording of this event.

War has been around for a very long time, and, unfortunately, it’s likely to continue in the future. But how humans fight—and what we fight over—changes with the times.

In the new issue of Orion, Christopher Merrill shares observations from his hectic travel schedule as director of the International Writing Program for the University of Iowa—a role that casts him as a kind of cultural envoy for the United States. Merrill finds himself in the midst of conflict on a regular basis, whether it’s in Burma or Baghdad, and he synthesized his experiences in the essay “The New Face of War.”

On June 18, at 4 p.m. Eastern/1 p.m. Pacific, join Christopher Merrill and guests Christian Parenti, Jodie Evans, and Leah Bolger for a free live discussion of Merrill’s essay and the future of war in an increasingly unpredictable world.

The event is free to join, will be moderated by Orion staff, and is open to all readers and friends. Register here.

Orion hosts live web events every month. Sign up to be alerted by e-mail when a new one is announced.