What Do We Know about War?

Review Solving the puzzle of war has dominated the attention of scholars and policy makers alike for decades. The new edition of What Do We Know about War? gauges the knowledge ascertained about the causes of war and the conditions of peace by the scientific community since the publication of the first edition, more than twenty years ago. In addition, it provides insights into new areas of research and concludes with reflections on what we have learned. This book is an essential read for academics, policy makers, and students interested in questions of war and peace. -- Faten Ghosn, University of ArizonaThis new volume features an expanded cast of experts who have written entirely original chapters, often about new topics not covered in previous editions in the series. The volume even boasts a new co-editor, Sara McLaughlin Mitchell. She and John Vasquez have done something rather difficult: they have taken an excellent collection and made it even better! What Do We Know About War? is as important for advanced-undergraduate and graduate courses as it is for scholars conducting their own research on war. -- Douglas Lemke, Pennsylvania State UniversityThe third edition of What Do We Know About War? continues in the tradition of previous editions. It is an extremely valuable resource for both students and scholars of international conflict. Each chapter provides an excellent overview of our knowledge and a roadmap of where we should go in the future. It is required reading for both students seeking knowledge and scholars embarking on their own research in international conflict. -- Richard J. Stoll, Rice University Product Description This invaluable text assesses the current research and theory on the causes of both war and peace. In a completely new set of chapters, leading international relations scholars explore the role of territorial disputes, power, alliances, arms races, rivalry, and nuclear weapons in bringing about war; the outcomes and consequences of war; and the factors that promote peace, including democracy, norms, capitalist economies, and stable borders. The third edition includes a new section on emerging trends in research on cyber war, the environment and climate change, leaders, war financing, and trends in interstate conflict. Reviewing fifty years of scientific research, the contributors provide an accessible and up-to-date overview of current knowledge and an agenda for future research. About the Author John A. Vasquez is the Thomas B. Mackie Scholar in International Relations at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. His books include The War Puzzle, The Power of Power Politics, (with Paul Senese), Contagion and War: Lessons from the First World War, and What Do We Know About War? (first and second editions). He received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the APSA Conflict Processes Section, and he has served as president of the Peace Science Society and the International Studies Association.