HIST394

An examination of the following questions: why do nations determine to go to war, blunder into war or go to war because they feel that they have no choice in the response to the actions of other nations? Why, on other occasions, are they able to resist the temptation to violence? What are the patterns of war and peace? Why are some wars limited and others total? Does the likelihood of civil wars increase when external threats diminish? Are democratic nations less likely to go to war than authoritarian nations? How and why can modern nations limit wars before they bring about overwhelming destruction? A case study method will be used.