Why Leaders Choose War: The Psychology of Prevention (Praeger Security International) - Hardcover

Jonathan Renshon

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0275990850 ISBN 13: 9780275990855

Publisher: Praeger (UK), 2006

Synopsis

Preventive war has a long history in international politics, but until it became an instrumental part of the Bush Doctrine, it was mostly overlooked. Renshon argues that the best avenue for understanding decisions to initiate preventive action is through a close examination of the individual leader responsible for such decisions. In this work, he develops a theory of psychological motivations for preventive action. By examining five situations, including the Iraq war, he pinpoints the factors that matter most in decisions to take preventive military action.

There have been preventive wars throughout history, but the motivations behind them have remained elusive, and many crucial questions remain unanswered. What exactly constitutes preventive action? What differentiates preventive action from pre-emptive action? Are there significant differences between preventive strikes and full-on preventive wars? What is the relationship of preventive action to traditional concepts of deterrence, compellence, and international law? Finally, why do states initiate preventive action?

Renshon argues that the best avenue for understanding decisions to initiate preventive action is through a close examination of the individual leader responsible for such decisions.

About this title

About the Author

Jonathan Renshon is a doctoral student in the Government department at Harvard University, focusing on international security issues. He holds a master's degree in international relations from the London School of Economics and Political Science and has served on the editorial board of the Millennium Journal of International Relations.

Edition details

• Publisher: Praeger (UK)
• Publication date: 2006
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0275990850
• ISBN 13: 9780275990855
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 240