
In this deeply informed book, renowned historian Jeremy Black addresses the crucial question of why wars happen, bridging the disciplines of history, political science & international relations, & spanning over the centuries. Black marshals an astonishing range of material from all corners of the globe, & demonstrates the universalities of conflict. What then causes wars? Do they primarily reflect bellicosity in societies & states, or do they arise as the result of the breakdown of diplomatic systems? How far are the causes of war related to changes in the nature of warfare, of the international system or of the internal character of states? Black looks at the problems of deepening war, & analyses the three main forms of conflict: wars across cultures, wars within cultures & civil war. He also assesses the present situation & asks where we are heading in terms of future wars.