The Causes of War (ePub)

Wars often spring out of nowhere with little warning. One need only
look at the recent troubles at the Lebanon-Israeli border for
evidence of this claim. At other points in history, such as the
run-up to the Second World War, wars seem all but foretold. How
does one understand a phenomenon that, at times, seems so random,
while at others so predictable? Is there an underlying "cause" of
war and, if so, what is it? In this book, David Sobek argues that
there is no single explanation for war: factors leading to war in
one case may well lead to peace in another. Understanding the onset
of war, he contends, requires a movement away from single theories
towards one that embraces the multi-faceted causes of war.

The characteristics of individual states, the strategic
interaction of multiple states, and the broad structure of the
international system all affect the risk of war. Throughout the
book Sobek draws on a wide range of examples - from the rise
of Japan in the 19th century to the emergence of Hamas in the 21st
century - to show how both domestic and international
politics push states to, or pull them from, the brink of armed
conflict. While civil war and terrorism are often viewed as a from
of violence distinct from interstate war, Sobek examines them as
simply an extreme form of asymmetric warfare. From this perspective
terrorism emerges as just another tactic used by actors engaged in
armed conflict.

The Causes of War will be essential reading for students of
security and strategic studies as well as anyone seeking to
understand the rise of violent conflict in the contemporary
world.