The arc of war : origins, escalation, and transformation / Jack S. Levy and William R. Thompson.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Levy, Jack S., 1948-

Contributor:

Thompson, William R.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

War and civilization.

War--History.

War.

History.

War--Sociological aspects.

Social evolution.

Physical Description:

xi, 282 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Chicago : University of Chicago Press, 2011.

Summary:

In this far-reaching exploration of the evolution of warfare in human history, Jack S. Levy and William R. Thompson provide insight into the perennial questions of why and how humans fight. Beginning with the origins of warfare among foraging groups, The Arc of War draws on a wealth of empirical data to enhance our understanding of how war began and how it has changed over time. The authors point to the complex interaction of war, political economy, political and military organization, military technology, and threat environment-all of which create changing incentives for states and other actors. They conclude that those actors that adapt survive, and those that do not are eliminated or subordinated. In modern times, warfare between major powers has become exceedingly costly and therefore quite rare, while lesser powers are too weak to fight sustained and decisive wars or to prevent internal rebellions and civil wars. Book jacket.

Contents:

The evolution of war

The origins of war

Evolutionary and coevolutionary processes

The first two agrarian warfare accelerations

The third evolutionary acceleration

The coevolution of the western military trajectory

Nonwestern military trajectories

The coevolution of war, past and future.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9780226476285

0226476286

9780226476292

0226476294

OCLC:

712117420