Is This a Private Fight or Can Anybody Join?: The Spread of Interstate War

by Zachary C Shirkey

Overview

Some countries join interstate wars well after the war has begun, waiting months and often years, and thus changing their beliefs about the wisdom of entering a war. This volume examines why this might be so, focusing on unforeseen events in wars which cause neutral players to update their expectations about the trajectory of the war, therefore explaining why some wars spread while others do not.

The author uses a combination of case studies and statistical analysis to test this theory: the Crimean War, the Franco-Prussian War, World War I, and a study of the spread of war since World War II. Designed for courses on and research into war and other international security issues, this book is a must read.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781409499206
Publisher:	Ashgate Publishing Ltd
Publication date:	03/28/2013
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	19 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Zachary C. Shirkey is an Assistant Professor of Political Science, Hunter College, CUNY, USA

Table of Contents

Contents: The puzzle of why states join ongoing wars; Previous findings and the new theory of joining; Statistical analysis of the spread of war; The Crimean War: public opinion, divided cabinets, and the partial spread of war; The First World War: the growth of a world war; The Franco-Prussian War: the war that refused to grow; Joining since 1945: balancing bandwagoning and the changing nature of spoils; Conclusions, extensions, and avenues for future research; Appendix; Bibliography; Index.