What are the causes of war? Human nature is the primary cause of war, but political regimes can temper or intensify these passions. Classical realism, modified to incorporate the impact of regimes and beliefs, provides a more convincing explanation of war than neo-realism.

1. Human Nature, the Regime and War.- 2. Kings and Counselors.- 3. Heroes and Sultans.- 4. Soldiers and Subordinates.- 5. Despots and Demagogues.- 6. Oligarchs, Democrats and Rebels.- 7. Classical Realism and History: Findings and Implications.

What are the causes of war? Wars are generally begun by a revisionist state seeking to take territory. The psychological root of revisionism is the yearning for glory, honor and power. Human nature is the primary cause of war, but political regimes can temper or intensify these passions. This book examines the effects of six types of regime on foreign policy: monarchy, republic and sultanistic, charismatic, and military and totalitarian dictatorship. Dictatorships encourage and unleash human ambition, and are thus the governments most likely to begin ill-considered wars. Classical realism, modified to incorporate the impact of regimes and beliefs, provides a more convincing explanation of war than neo-realism.
John David Orme is Professor of Politics at Oglethorpe University, USA, and author of The Paradox of Peace; Deterrence, Reputation and Cold-War Cycles; and Political Instability and American Foreign Policy.

“John Orme has written a superb and timely book demonstrating the inadequacies of neo-Realism and identifying the root cause of its error in all configurations. He has grounded his richer and more compelling explanation for war in a combination of regime type, the propensities of individual leaders and the Thucydidean trinity of fear, honor, and interest. Policymakers and scholars will profit immensely from this sensible, rigorous study of why states fight.” (Robert G. Kaufman, Robert and Katheryn Dockson Professor of Public Policy, Pepperdine University, USA)

Sets forth classical realism as a theory of world politics Finds that revisionism (the desire to alter the territorial status quo) accounts for much more warfare than “spirals of insecurity” between status quo powers Examines the effects of political regimes (especially authoritarian ones) on foreign policy

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