IS WAR OBSOLETE?

In: International security, Band 14, Heft 4, S. 42-64

Abstract

IN AN ESSAY REVIEWING JOHN MUELLER'S "RETREAT FROM DOOMSDAY" CARL KAYSEN OF M.I.T. EXAMINES FIVE CENTURIES OF SOCIAL, POLITICAL, AND ECONOMIC CHANGES THAT HAVE INFLUENCED THE LIKELIHOOD OF WAR AMONG MAJOR POWERS. HE ARGUES THAT MUELLER IS RIGHT IN HIS CONCLUSION THAT WAR AMONG INDUSTRIAL COUNTRIES IS BECOMING OBSOLESCENT, BUT WRONG IN HIS ANALYSIS OF WHY THIS IS SO AND IN HIS DISMISSAL OF THE SIGNIFICANCE OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS. ACCORDING TO KAYSEN, MAJOR WARS HAVE BECOME UNLIKELY BECAUSE THEY HAVE BECOME POLITICALLY AND ECONOMICALLY UNPROFITAL