July 29, 2009

On the Origins of War

War has been a fact of life for centuries. Kagan tries to uncover the causes of war and the reasons for peace. He analyzes major international conflicts from a variety of time periods--the Peloponnesian War which pitted Athens against Sparta, the Second Punic War in which Greece fought against Rome, World War I, World War II, and the Cuban Missile Crisis. In each conflict, he identifies the change in the opponents that increases instability between the two countries, resulting in conflict. He examines the peace and shows how it is tested. Finally, he identifies the critical elements that caused the war, as well as those that kept peace. This is a fascinating study that will be relevant to international relations in any era.

This book can be found in HECSA Library:

On the Origins of War and the Preservation of Peace
Donald Kagan
D25.5 .K27 1996