The Security Dilemma and War Revisited

Abstract

After clearing the underbrush that has come to obstruct our understanding of the concept of the security dilemma itself, we can now tackle the critical question: has the security dilemma been a major cause of war in history? Or, to put it differently, can the security dilemma really explain most, or even many, interstate wars in history? If the answer to the question is yes, what kind of lessons can we draw for managing international politics today? If the answer is no, does the security dilemma still have any significant relevance for managing international politics today? Because the security dilemma is central to defensive realism, our answers to these crucial questions will have important implications for understanding defensive realism’s approach toward managing security.