PSCI 2223 Chapter Notes - Chapter 3: Preventive War, Brinkmanship, Bargaining
3 Jan 2016
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War is an extremely costly way for states to settle their disputes. The most obvious cost of war is human life, but there are major economic and material costs associated with it as well. In addition, wars usually leave untold millions injured, displaced from their homes and countries, impoverished and diseased. At first glance, it might seem obvious why states go to war; states fight wars because they have conflicting interests over important issues. Often two states desire the same piece of territory. Alternatively, one state might object to the policies or ideology of another. Understanding why wars occur requires that we identify the factors that sometimes prevent states from settling their conflicts through peaceful bargains that would permit them to avoid the cost of war. Even though states may have conflicting interests over goods like territory or policies, the cost of war ensure that there generally exists a peaceful settlement that all sides prefer to war.
