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

Author: (C) Kjell Eliav-Holsti
Publisher:
Publication Date: 2005-08-01
Features: Peace and War 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, countless 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, Holsti approaches the issue from a fresh perspective. He poses three interconnected questions: What kinds of contentious issues spark conflicts? How have attitudes toward war changed over time? What efforts and measures have been taken in the past to control and prevent international conflicts and crises? Professor Holsti first evaluates the achievements and shortcomings of a vast body of war studies literature and proposes his own framework for researching international politics. Then, he meticulously examines 177 wars and major armed conflicts in the European and world state systems since 1648, as well as the phased efforts by mediators to establish order after the wars. Methodologically, the book blends historical description with scientific analysis, combining the sensitivity of a historian to narrative details 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.