An Introduction to the Causes of War

An impressive and important contribution to the canon of books that explore the causes of interstate war. Using five different levels or baskets of analysis--individual, sub-state, nation-state, dyadic, and international system--Cashman and Robinson masterfully blend theory and case studies to highlight the multicausal dynamics that affect the probability of war. An Introduction to the Causes of War is essential reading for students and scholars interested in a comprehensive understanding of the wars from World War I to the Iraq War and why disagreements were not resolved peacefully.--Steven E. Lobell, University of Utah Cashman and Robinson's detailed case studies of some of the most important interstate wars of the past century are guided by theory and well grounded in the historical literature. They nicely highlight both the complexity of the causes of war and the persistence of recurrent patterns. An Introduction to the Causes of War provides one of the best combinations of theory and history of the causes of war that one can find in a single book for the undergraduate classroom.--Jack S. Levy, Rutgers University Cashman and Robinson urge analytical integration and more interaction with case studies--both of which are highly desirable goals for pedagogical and theoretical reasons. Their text should prove highly useful in courses on the causes of war.--William R. Thompson, emeritus, Indiana University