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What Do We Know about War?

Revised Third Edition

Edited by Sara McLaughlin Mitchell and John A. Vasquez

This invaluable text assesses the current research on the causes of both war and peace. In this revised third edition—now with a brand new chapter on the Russian-Ukraine War—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 revised third edition includes a 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 a road map for future research.

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  • Author
  • Author
  • TOC
  • TOC
  • Reviews
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  • Features
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Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
Pages: 488 • Trim: 6½ x 9½
978-1-5381-9315-0 • Hardback • January 2024 • $115.00 • (£88.00)
978-1-5381-9316-7 • Paperback • January 2024 • $59.00 • (£45.00)
978-1-5381-9317-4 • eBook • January 2024 • $56.00 • (£43.00)
Subjects: History / Military / General, Political Science / International Relations / General, Political Science / Security (National & International)
Courses: Political Science; International Relations; War & Conflict, Political Science; Military Studies; General

Sara McLaughlin Mitchell is the Professor and Collegiate Scholar of Political Science at the University of Iowa.

John A. Vasquez is Professor Emeritus of Political Science at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

Preface to the Revised Third Edition

Preface to the Third Edition

Introduction

Sara McLaughlin Mitchell and John A. Vasquez

PART I: FACTORS THAT BRING ABOUT WAR

1 Territory and Contentious Issues

Paul R. Hensel and Hein Goemans

2 Dyadic Power Distributions and War

Daniel S. Morey and Kelly M. Kadera

3 Deterrence Theory and Alliance Politics

Michael R. Kenwick and Roseanne W. McManus

4 Arms Races

Susan G. Sample

5 Rivalries and Crisis Bargaining

Seden Akcinaroglu and Elizabeth Radziszewski

6 Nuclear Weapons

Matthew Fuhrmann

7 Outcomes and Consequences of War

Stephen L. Quackenbush

PART II: FACTORS THAT PROMOTE PEACE

8 The Liberal Peace

Michael Mousseau

9 The Territorial Peace: Current and Future Research

Douglas M. Gibler and Steven V. Miller

10 The Peace Puzzle: Understanding Transitions to Peace

Andrew P. Owsiak, Paul F. Diehl, and Gary Goertz

11 Conflict Management of Territorial and Maritime Disputes

Emilia Justyna Powell and Krista E. Wiegand

PART III: EMERGING TRENDS IN INTERSTATE WAR RESEARCH

12 Cyber War

Brandon Valeriano, Ryan C. Maness, and Benjamin Jensen

13 The Environment and Conflict: Water Wars

Sara McLaughlin Mitchell and Yufan Yang

14 Leaders and War

Scott Wolford

15 War Financing and Foreign Debt

Rosella Cappella Zielinski and Paul Poast

16 Trends in Interstate Conflict

Bear F. Braumoeller

PART IV: CONCLUSION

17 Some Brief Observations on the Contemporary Study of War

William R. Thompson

18 War and the Orient Express

Andrew P. Owsiak and Douglas B. Atkinson

19 What Do We Know about War?

Sara McLaughlin Mitchell and John A. Vasquez

20 Afterword: The Russia-Ukraine War--What Can Quantitative Conflict Research Tell Us?

Sara McLaughlin Mitchell and John A. Vasquez

References

Name Index

Subject Index

About the Contributors

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 Arizona


This 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 University


The 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


  • Brand new chapter at the end of the book on the Russia-Ukraine War
  • Numerous graphs and figures



What Do We Know about War?

Revised Third Edition

Cover Image
Hardback
Paperback
eBook
Summary
Summary
  • This invaluable text assesses the current research on the causes of both war and peace. In this revised third edition—now with a brand new chapter on the Russian-Ukraine War—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 revised third edition includes a 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 a road map for future research.

Details
Details
  • Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
    Pages: 488 • Trim: 6½ x 9½
    978-1-5381-9315-0 • Hardback • January 2024 • $115.00 • (£88.00)
    978-1-5381-9316-7 • Paperback • January 2024 • $59.00 • (£45.00)
    978-1-5381-9317-4 • eBook • January 2024 • $56.00 • (£43.00)
    Subjects: History / Military / General, Political Science / International Relations / General, Political Science / Security (National & International)
    Courses: Political Science; International Relations; War & Conflict, Political Science; Military Studies; General
Author
Author
  • Sara McLaughlin Mitchell is the Professor and Collegiate Scholar of Political Science at the University of Iowa.

    John A. Vasquez is Professor Emeritus of Political Science at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

Table of Contents
Table of Contents
  • Preface to the Revised Third Edition

    Preface to the Third Edition

    Introduction

    Sara McLaughlin Mitchell and John A. Vasquez

    PART I: FACTORS THAT BRING ABOUT WAR

    1 Territory and Contentious Issues

    Paul R. Hensel and Hein Goemans

    2 Dyadic Power Distributions and War

    Daniel S. Morey and Kelly M. Kadera

    3 Deterrence Theory and Alliance Politics

    Michael R. Kenwick and Roseanne W. McManus

    4 Arms Races

    Susan G. Sample

    5 Rivalries and Crisis Bargaining

    Seden Akcinaroglu and Elizabeth Radziszewski

    6 Nuclear Weapons

    Matthew Fuhrmann

    7 Outcomes and Consequences of War

    Stephen L. Quackenbush

    PART II: FACTORS THAT PROMOTE PEACE

    8 The Liberal Peace

    Michael Mousseau

    9 The Territorial Peace: Current and Future Research

    Douglas M. Gibler and Steven V. Miller

    10 The Peace Puzzle: Understanding Transitions to Peace

    Andrew P. Owsiak, Paul F. Diehl, and Gary Goertz

    11 Conflict Management of Territorial and Maritime Disputes

    Emilia Justyna Powell and Krista E. Wiegand

    PART III: EMERGING TRENDS IN INTERSTATE WAR RESEARCH

    12 Cyber War

    Brandon Valeriano, Ryan C. Maness, and Benjamin Jensen

    13 The Environment and Conflict: Water Wars

    Sara McLaughlin Mitchell and Yufan Yang

    14 Leaders and War

    Scott Wolford

    15 War Financing and Foreign Debt

    Rosella Cappella Zielinski and Paul Poast

    16 Trends in Interstate Conflict

    Bear F. Braumoeller

    PART IV: CONCLUSION

    17 Some Brief Observations on the Contemporary Study of War

    William R. Thompson

    18 War and the Orient Express

    Andrew P. Owsiak and Douglas B. Atkinson

    19 What Do We Know about War?

    Sara McLaughlin Mitchell and John A. Vasquez

    20 Afterword: The Russia-Ukraine War--What Can Quantitative Conflict Research Tell Us?

    Sara McLaughlin Mitchell and John A. Vasquez

    References

    Name Index

    Subject Index

    About the Contributors

Reviews
Reviews
  • 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 Arizona


    This 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 University


    The 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


Features
Features
    • Brand new chapter at the end of the book on the Russia-Ukraine War
    • Numerous graphs and figures



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