War and International Relations: A Critical Analysis

ISBN-13: 9780367748029 / Angielski / Miękka / 2023 / 260 str.

Balazs Szanto

Opis

This book provides a critical overview of the occurrence of war in the international system by examining the concept from multiple perspectives and theoretical backgrounds.

War is an essential concept in international affairs, if for no other reason than because prevention of war requires an in-depth understanding of it as a concept. This book seeks to examine the continued occurrence of war in international relations, despite the emergence of arguments concerning its obsolescence. It provides a new cognitive framework through which to understand war as a phenomenon, which can be applied to real-world scenarios and policy issues, making use of case studies predominantly from China and Japan. Theoretically, the book is primarily based on a structural realist framework but adopts a significant constructivist component through the emphasis on identity and reputation in the international system. The volume offers a nuanced yet holistic approach to the theory of war and seeks to engage critically with the major theoretical approaches, pointing out the major criticisms of these ideas and how the theories correlate.

This book will be of much interest to students of strategic studies, foreign policy, and International Relations.

Spis treści

1.Introduction  Part I: The Nature of War  2. The Definition of War  3. War, Identity, and Culture  4. War, International Law, and Morality  Part I Conclusion: War and International Relations  Part II: War Doesn’t Work  5. The Self-Defeating Nature of War  6. Better Tools Available  7. Paradigm Shifts  Part II Conclusion: The Obsolescence of War  Part III: Reasons for Going to War  8. Systemic Explanations  9. National Characteristics  10. Practical Considerations  Part III Conclusion: The Reason We Fight  Part IV: The Rational Decision to go to War  11. Rational Choice Modelling for War  12. The Feasibility of War  13. The Costs, Benefits, and Risks of War  14. Foreign Policy Alternatives to War and Making the Choice to Go to War  Part IV Conclusion: A Tragic but Necessary Evil  15. "A" Peace versus "Our" Peace

O autorze

Balazs Szanto is a lecturer at Chulalongkorn University, Thailand.