Trends in the Study of War

Question 1

What was Quincy Wright’s significance on fhe study of war?

Answer 1

Developed the basic theory of war, arguing that the key factors for understanding are technology, law, social organisations, and opinions concerning basic values

Question 2

What was Lewis Fry Richardson’s significance on fhe study of war?

Answer 2

Developed the mathematical model of arms races as a cause of war

Question 3

What was J. David Singer’s significance on fhe study of war?

Answer 3

Founded the Correlates of War Project, recognised advancing the scientific study of wars required data collection

Question 4

What do qualitative research centres do when studying war?

Answer 4

*Providing an evidence base for all aspects of conflict
*Identifying and explaining aspects of the origins, dynamics and resolution of conflict

Question 5

Why is a definition for war necessary?

Answer 5

To know if certain conflicts do or do not classify as war

Question 6

What are the three main types of wars for political science purposes?

Answer 6

1. Inter-state wars
2. Extra-state wars
3. Intra-state wars

Question 7

What are the coding problems with wars for data and research?

Answer 7

In practice wars are much more complicated than they appear in political science data sets

Question 8

What mainly defines an inter-state war?

Answer 8

Fighting between the regular military forces of two or more countries

Question 9

What mainly defines an extra-state war?

Answer 9

When a state fights outside of its borders against a non-state actor

Question 10

What mainly defines an intra-state war?

Answer 10

Occurs between state and non-state actors within the territory of a state

Question 11

What is a militarised inter-state dispute?

Answer 11

*Includes threat to use force, the display of force, the actual use of military force
*Actions must be explicit
*Below the level of war

Question 12

What are additional categories to consider for war?

Answer 12

*Formal and informal wars
*Armed conflict
*Aggression
*Hybrid warfare
*Cyber attack
*Space war

Question 13

What is the Pinker Thesis?

Answer 13

Over the course of human history, there has been a steady move away from relying on violence to settle disputes

Also less reliance on more savage and egregious forms of violence

Question 14

What is the Decline of War Thesis?

Answer 14

Since 1945 there have been relatively few large inter-state wars (Long Peace)

Question 15

What are the general historical trends in wars in the modern great power system?

Answer 15

Large wars have become shorter but much deadlier

Question 16

What is the Long Cycle theory of war?

Answer 16

World power emerges from a global war with control over world trade, new rivals gradually overtake them leading to war

Question 17

What is the Democratic Peace Theory?

Answer 17

Stable democracies are very unlikely to go to war with each other

Question 18

What are the three possible explanations for the Democratic Peace Theory?

Answer 18

Normative

Institutional

Kantian Triangle

Question 19

What is the Normative explanation for the Democratic Peace Theory?

Answer 19

*Democracies are likely to externalise peaceful norms associated with democratic politics
*Non-democracies are likely to externalise violent norms associated with power politics

Question 20

What is the Institutional explanation for the Democratic Peace Theory?

Answer 20

*Checks and balances can prevent democracies going to war
*Wars are expensive and unpopular in democracies
*Democratic leaders are incentivised to resolve conflicts peacefully

Question 21

What is the Kantian Triangle explanation for the Democratic Peace Theory?

Answer 21

*Democracy Characteristics combined with IO memberships and Economic Interdependence

Question 22

What is the Capitalist Peace Theory?

Answer 22

Capitalism is the driving force of peace between democracies, instead of democracy itself

Question 23

How does capitalism prevent war according to the Capitalist Peace Theory?

Answer 23

*Wealthy states are unwilling to go to war with each other
*Democratic Peace Theory driven by wealthy states becoming democratic

Question 24

How does democratic governance lead to a decline in war?

Answer 24

*Democratic norms, accountability and transparency
*Inability to justify repression means less gains from conquest

Question 25

How does economic interdependence lead to a decline in war?

Answer 25

*Trade disruptions make wars costlier *Trade allows states to access resources without conquest *Trade disputes settled peacefully

Question 26

How does wealth lead to a decline in war?

Answer 26

*Conquered lands decrease in relative value as economies develop *Dependence on international capital markets make wars costlier

Question 27

How do demographics and social changes lead to a decline in war?

Answer 27

*Youth bulges mean more manpower which can encourage wars *Old populations increase domestic funding and make wars costlier *Female empowerment can reduce conflicts

Question 28

How do international organisations lead to a decline in war?

Answer 28

*IOs spread peaceful norms among members *IOs raise diplomatic costs and settle disputes *IOs have peacekeeping missions

Question 29

How do territorial integrity norms lead to a decline in war?

Answer 29

*Higher costs of initiating territorial disputes through sanctions *Discourages irredentist claims *Discourages secessionist movements

Question 30

How do nuclear weapons lead to a decline in war?

Answer 30

*Risk of retaliation (MAD) disincentivises conflicts *Nukes force states to be cautious *Nukes limit the size of wars

Question 31

How does technology lead to a decline in war?

Answer 31

*Greater access to information and international contacts disincentivises wars *Greater transparency makes surprise attacks harder

Question 32

How does US hegemony lead to a decline in war?

Answer 32

*US uses influence to discourage conflicts amongst allies and partners *US reduces incentives for arms races

Question 33

How did the Ukraine War affect war studies?

Answer 33

*Invalidated lots of theories on war decline *Forced scholars to revisit ideas of peace

Question 34

Have wars become more or less lethal?

Answer 34

Casualties as percentages of population have decreased, but casualties as numbers have increased

Question 35

Are wars still expensive?

Answer 35

Wars are still enormously expensive, but most states benefit from the Phoenix Factor

Question 36

What are more recent examples of the Phoenix Factor?

Answer 36

Wars in Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan being very costly but having little to no effects on US economic power