Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
Pages: 620
•
Trim: 7¼ x 10½
978-0-7425-6650-7 • Hardback • July 2013 • $172.00 • (£133.00)
978-0-7425-6651-4 • Paperback • July 2013 • $100.00 • (£77.00)
978-0-7425-6652-1 • eBook • July 2013 • $95.00 • (£73.00)
Greg Cashman is professor emeritus and adjunct professor in political science at Salisbury University, Maryland.
Chapter 1: Empirical Theory and the Causes of War
Chapter 2: The Individual Level of Analysis, Part I: Human Aggression
Chapter 3: The Individual Level of Analysis, Part II: Psychological Explanations for War
Chapter 4: The Substate Level of Analysis: Group Decision Making
Chapter 5: The State Level of Analysis, Part I: Political, Economic, and Demographic Factors
Chapter 6: The State Level of Analysis, Part II: Internal Conflicts, Nationalism, and War Weariness
Chapter 7: The Dyadic Level of Analysis, Part I: The Nature of Dyads—Really Bad Dyads and Pretty Good Dyads
Chapter 8: The Dyadic Level of Analysis, Part II: International Interactions
Chapter 9: The Dyadic Level of Analysis, Part III: Game Theory, Bargaining, and Deterrence Theory
Chapter 10: The International System Level of Analysis, Part I: Realism, Anarchy, and the Balance of Power
Chapter 11: The International System Level of Analysis, Part II: Power Dynamics, Cyclical Theories, and Historical-Structural Theories of War
Chapter 12: Constructivism: A Digression
Chapter 13: Conclusion
Bibliography
Greg Cashman thoroughly examines the validity and reliability of empirical findings and the theories of international relations they attempt to test. He is clear, balanced, and precise. Every student of world politics ought to own this book.
— Charles F. Doran, Andrew W. Mellon Professor of International Relations, Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies
Extraordinary! [Greg Cashman has] done a masterful job of examining, evaluating, and integrating this large, complex, inconsistent, and buzzing welter of literature. Sensible, intelligent, coherent, and nicely written. (Previous Edition Praise)
— J. David Singer, University of Michigan
Cashman takes a comprehensive look at the various factors thought to contribute to the outbreak of war. Using a levels of analysis approach, he presents an exhaustive set of theories at the individual, substate, state, dyadic, and international levels. Following the explanation of each theory, Cashman presents the empirical record supporting and/or refuting the theories. In this second edition, the book has been expanded to include the growing body of literature examining the causes of war. Further, Cashman has added more depth to the theoretical discussions by including throughout the book case illustrations that should help pique the interest of students. He has also added a chapter on constructivism reflecting an evolving field of study. This book presents a most comprehensive and up-to-date assessment of literature surrounding the causes of war. It is ideal for graduate and advanced undergraduates studying contemporary war. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduate, graduate, research, and professional collections.
— Choice Reviews
Thoroughly revised edition of the classic synthesis of the field, now twenty years of new scholarship in the study of the causes of warMost comprehensive coverage availableOrganized by five levels of analysis: individual, sub-state, state, dyadic, and international systemEach section succinctly explains specific theories of war, examines arguments and counterarguments, evidence and counterevidence, and the implications for peacePlentiful use of historical examples New featuresNew evidence on primate violence and warfare in primitive human societiesNew evidence from the “cognitive revolution” in psychology regarding information processing and decision making for warUpdates on “the democratic peace” theory—both monadic and dyadic versionsExpanded coverage of the diversionary theory of war and the link between internal conflict and war
New section on nationalism and war and the importance of ethno-religious nationalism and nation-state imbalances
New section on rivalries and warNew section on territorial disputes and the “steps-to-war” theoryNew section on bargaining theory and two-level gamesExpanded and updated coverage of deterrence theory and the effectiveness of nuclear deterrence, including discussion of the “nuclear taboo”
New section on the constructivist approach to war