Causes Of War Essay, Research Paper

Individual level factors–Ethology is study on how humans and animals are equal. They contend that humans have the instinct to fight like animals do. Fighting would come when territory is intruded upon, for example. Frustration-aggression theorists contend that an environment would frustrate a person, and then aggression comes about.

State Level–The type of political system is very important. Democracies seem to be more peaceful while authoritarian/totalitarian ones are more aggressive. Free trade also plays a factor with the commercial end of a country does not want to deal with warring countries, thus making the government slow down on wars with anyone, or slow relations with these warring states. Nationalism is also a factor because it could result in ethnocentrism and aggression could result from this. Protectionism (protecting goods and services from one’s own country with tariffs and government restrictions) could also lead to war.

International level–Problems could result from the system in which foreign policy is conducted. This would be an anarchy system. The long cycles theory comes into play here too. A balance of power could also lead to war like in Europe in the 19th and 20th centuries.