Peace and War: Armed Conflicts and International Order, 1648-1989

Author: (Canada) Robert Rothstein Wang Puqu
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-08-01
Features: The Causes of War and the Pursuit of Peace is a significant work that examines the origins of war and the construction of peace over the past 350 years. It stands as a vital contribution to the study of diplomatic history, war and peace studies, international relations, international conflict, and political science research. For millennia, political scientists, philosophers, and historians have explored the causes of war, producing an immense body of literature, yet no definitive conclusion has been reached. In this book, H?rdy Holsti approaches the issue from a fresh perspective. He poses three interrelated questions: What kinds of contentious issues trigger conflict? How have attitudes toward war changed over time? What efforts and measures have been taken in the past to control and prevent international conflict and crises? Professor Holsti begins by evaluating the achievements and shortcomings of existing literature on war studies and proposes his own framework for researching international politics. Subsequently, he meticulously examines 177 wars and major armed conflicts within the European and world state systems since 1648, as well as the phased efforts made by mediators to establish order after the conclusion of these wars. Methodologically, the book blends historical narration with scientific analysis, combining the sensitivity of a historian to the details of stories with the rigor of a political scientist in theoretical analysis. With this volume in hand, readers will find it utterly engaging and free of dryness.