Causes of War
1. Edition January 2010
288 Pages, Softcover
Wiley & Sons Ltd
Short Description
To avoid war, one must first understand its causes. Written by two highly regarded scholars - both former Presidents of the International Studies Association - this text provides a comprehensive analysis of the leading theories of both interstate and civil war, along with a discussion of the changing nature of war over time. Scholarly and insightful, Causes of War offers a systematic analysis of the sources of conflict between and within states and their implications for the future of international relations.
Written by leading scholars in the field, Causes of War provides the first comprehensive analysis of the leading theories relating to the origins of both interstate and civil wars.
* Utilizes historical examples to illustrate individual theories throughout
* Includes an analysis of theories of civil wars as well as interstate wars -- one of the only texts to do both
* Written by two former International Studies Association Presidents
1. Introduction to the Study of War.
2. System-Level Theories.
3. The Dyadic Interactions of States.
4. The State and Societal Level.
5. Decision-Making: The Individual Level.
6. Decision-Making: The Organizational Level.
7. Civil War.
8. Conclusion: Reflections on Levels, Causes, and War.
References.
Index
"Along the way are examples from recent history that may surprise the reader. At the very least, every member of Congress and the State Department should study this report." (Book News Inc, November 2010)
William R. Thompson is Rogers Professor of Political Science at Indiana University and Managing Editor of International Studies Quarterly. He is a former President of the International Studies Association (2005-6). His ongoing research focuses on conflict and long-term international political economy.