Theories of war

2. War- “sustained
coordinated violence
between political
organizations”
Includes: wars
between countries,
civil wars, terrorist
groups
Does not include:
gang fights, individual
violence

3. State of nature- a
society with no
government
International relations
works in a state of
nature
2 theories:
• People will fight for
resources and reputation
and therefore need a
strong controlling force to
keep them in check.
• People will basically get
along and seek to resolve
conflict
Vs.

4. Man is an animal and, therefore, acts as an
animal.
How do animals behave amongst each other?
• Fight for territory
• Fight for food
War is a natural result of these biological urges

5. A category of a number of theories of war.
International relations is a state of anarchy.
Sovereign states operate in this anarchy
according to their rational interests.
These interests can be based on security,
power, or wealth.
War can result from purposeful actions or from
inadvertent acts.

6. As a population grows,
people look for more
land and resources.
This causes them to
fight other countries to
gain these resources.
If Costa Rica’s
population were to grow
to 1 billion, where would
they get the resources
to provide for
everyone?

7. Countries act based upon
what they think the other
country will do.
Since they do not know
the other country’s
intentions, they do not
know how to act.
So if one country
mobilizes troops, the
other country does so as
well.
War can be avoided
through communication.

8. This theory says that countries will do
whatever benefits them the most.
Losing a war is more costly than
surrendering.
So a country only goes to war if it thinks it
can win.

9. Theory says that war is sometimes a
necessary evil.
What circumstance could justify war?
The goal is to make it as orderly as
possible by imposing certain rules.
What rules are in place today to govern
war?
Are these rules followed?

10. Levy, J. & Thompson, W. (2010). Causes of
War. Sussex, UK: John Wiley & Sons.