MAN, STATE AND WAR

Man, the State and War

Man, the State and War

Introduction

The book proves to explain the causes of war between states. In the preface, Waltz writes that it is important to know the causes of war in order to help achieve peace (Waltz, 2). In the book, Waltz uses three images, or levels of analysis to examine the various reasons why major wars happen. The causes of war are "... within man, within the framework of separate states, and within the state system," (Waltz, 2001, 12).

Discussion

t the first level (the man), the causes of war are "... in the character and manners of men," (Waltz, 16, my translation). Waltz emphasizes selfishness, aggression, and stupidity as characteristics that contribute to the war (Waltz, 2001, 16). The chapter describes the general idea that war can be avoided with education (Waltz, 2001, 17). It is important to clarify a common point of confusion on this level. Many people think that the level of man puts the blame for the war on the heads of state, but in fact, this case has its roots in human nature in general.

The second level introduces a phase of political analysis. Waltz writes that, "... according to the second image, the internal organization of states is the key to understanding the war and peace," (Waltz, 2008, 81). He describes the idea that states require an external enemy to unify their populations (Waltz,2008, 81-82). Under discussion is the idea that states perceive their interests differently from how they are perceived by other states. Because of this detachment happens wars between states (Waltz, 2008, 83)? The modern school of international relations must deal with the irrationality of the states that fight, because war is harmful to economic prosperity (Waltz, 99-100).

The third level of analysis suggests that the war is the international system, which is an anarchist. At this level, each state is sovereign, and there were no power over them. Therefore, each state will act in the interests of its security. When these interests are in conflict with those of other states, wars happen (Waltz, 2000, 159). All states may use force, and therefore, everyone must always be prepared to defend themselves. This is necessary because a state will use force to achieve its goals (Waltz, 2000, 160). According to the third level of analysis, "states in the world are like individuals in their natural state," (Waltz, 2000, 163). In this chapter, Waltz cites the opinion of Jean-Jacques Rousseau that the only way to have peace between states is to make a government over them all obligations with the same force of law that exists within states, (Waltz, 2008, 185). This view compares to Immanuel Kant that states can establish peace with a voluntary federation (Waltz, 2008, 185).

Perhaps Waltz's primary concern in Man, the State and War is to identify himself as a 'third image' theorist. For Waltz, malign human nature can explain individual wars but not the recurrence and persistence of war over ...