What have been the main causes of peace in the last 100 years? At first glance, the question seems straightforward; however, the last 100 years have been the most violent and deadly in recorded human history. During this period, conflicts resulted in the death of approximately 180-230 million people (Leitenberg, 2006), and since 1946 there have been 259 conflicts in 159 locations around the world (Pettersson and Wallensteen, 2015). These figures suggest that the previous century was one of constant conflict. However, Gartzke noted that the stochastic occurrence of war hinged on uncertainty (1999), thereby suggesting that its outbreak occurred from an underlying condition of peace. Meirowitz and Sartori argued that for war to occur between
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In the former, democratic institutions raise the political risks of war by holding leaders accountable for their actions. Within the later explanation, transparent policy-making processes avoid information imbalances that contribute to bargaining breakdowns which allows democracies to make more credible threats (Schultz, 1999). Although Schultz ultimately sided with the informational argument, his results remained inconclusive. Russett and Oneal, posited three variables that contribute to democratic peace, democracy, economic interdependence, and membership in intergovernmental organizations (IGO), and posited that each also helped produce the others. According to the authors, these variables have both dyadic and systemic affects, meaning that a dyad would be more peaceful if it had democracy, economic interdependence, and IGO membership, and the international system would be more peaceful the higher the overall levels of the three variables (Russett and Oneal, 2001). Growing levels of economic interdependence following World War II, and accelerating after the Cold War, likely contributed to overall peaceful conditions since the necessary factors for the security of property and contract rights that generate economic growth are the same as those needed for democracy. are necessary (Olson, 1993; Gartzke, 2007). However, the …show more content…
Taken together, these three factors influenced the international security environment towards peace, even if war frequently erupted in specific times or places. Formal institutions created after the two world wars like the League of Nations, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, United Nations, and World Bank First began to serve as the media through which states interacted and made decision. In turn, state interactions over time within these organizations, and many more like them, sowed the seeds for a global culture that devalued war and promoted ideas of cooperation and interdependence. Finally, the relational patterns that emerged help define who were allies and adversaries based on which states complied with or violated accepted norms. These three layers of the international cultural environment affected state identity and interests. (Jepperson, Wendt, & Katzenstein, 1996). The changing character of statehood, for instance the transition of formerly militaristic Germany and Japan into peaceful nations, likely facilitated and reinforced the emerging patterns of peace resulting from structural and institutional changed over the past 100
In the former, democratic institutions raise the political risks of war by holding leaders accountable for their actions. Within the later explanation, transparent policy-making processes avoid information imbalances that contribute to bargaining breakdowns which allows democracies to make more credible threats (Schultz, 1999). Although Schultz ultimately sided with the informational argument, his results remained inconclusive. Russett and Oneal, posited three variables that contribute to democratic peace, democracy, economic interdependence, and membership in intergovernmental organizations (IGO), and posited that each also helped produce the others. According to the authors, these variables have both dyadic and systemic affects, meaning that a dyad would be more peaceful if it had democracy, economic interdependence, and IGO membership, and the international system would be more peaceful the higher the overall levels of the three variables (Russett and Oneal, 2001). Growing levels of economic interdependence following World War II, and accelerating after the Cold War, likely contributed to overall peaceful conditions since the necessary factors for the security of property and contract rights that generate economic growth are the same as those needed for democracy. are necessary (Olson, 1993; Gartzke, 2007). However, the …show more content…
Taken together, these three factors influenced the international security environment towards peace, even if war frequently erupted in specific times or places. Formal institutions created after the two world wars like the League of Nations, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, United Nations, and World Bank First began to serve as the media through which states interacted and made decision. In turn, state interactions over time within these organizations, and many more like them, sowed the seeds for a global culture that devalued war and promoted ideas of cooperation and interdependence. Finally, the relational patterns that emerged help define who were allies and adversaries based on which states complied with or violated accepted norms. These three layers of the international cultural environment affected state identity and interests. (Jepperson, Wendt, & Katzenstein, 1996). The changing character of statehood, for instance the transition of formerly militaristic Germany and Japan into peaceful nations, likely facilitated and reinforced the emerging patterns of peace resulting from structural and institutional changed over the past 100