Human Nature, the Regime and War

Abstract

Classical Realism provides a more convincing explanation for war than Neo-Realism. This is because human nature, not anarchy, is the most fundamental cause of war. Human beings desire not only to survive, but to preserve honor, win glory and acquire power. The causes and effects of these motives are investigated. How and to what extent they lead to international conflict depends in part on whether they are regulated or intensified by political regimes. Wars occur when a revisionist leader animated by power and glory, unrestrained or encouraged by his regime, attempts to seize territory or provokes others to attack. The validity of this approach will be tested in twenty case studies grouped according to regime type: Monarchy; Republic; and Dictatorships of four sub-types.