A very interesting book. It is very well written (jargon-free anlysis). Renshon presents a theory for preventive war based on six different variables: 1) declining power motivation; 2) inherent bad faith relationship with adversary; 3) belief of inevitability of war; 4) belief in window of opportunity; 5) situation favouring the offensive; 6) black-and-white thinking.
Looking to identify and assess the decision-makers motivations for preventive action, the author uses a comparative case study method to test his theory. The cases selected are the Suez Crisis, Israeli strike against Iraqi nuclear facility, US Cold War strategy, India-Pakistan conflict, and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Renshon concludes by highlighting the importance of individual leaders perceptions in choosing preventive action. The author also reflects on the association between preventive action and the failure of deterrence, calling attention to the future policy options between these two strategies.
Author(s): Jonathan Renshon
Series: Praeger Security International
Publisher: Praeger
Year: 2006
Language: English
Pages: 239
Tags: Международные отношения;Международные отношения;Теория международных отношений;
Contents......Page 8
Foreword by Alexander L. George......Page 10
Preface......Page 12
1. Preventive War: An Introduction......Page 16
2. Preventing What? The Suez Canal Crisis......Page 38
3. Israel’s Preventive Strike against Iraq......Page 56
4. How Real Was ‘‘Dr. Strangelove?’’ American Preventive War Thinking Post–WWII......Page 74
5. To the Brink . . . India and Pakistan’s Nuclear Standoff......Page 102
6. Preventive War as a Grand Strategy? George W. Bush and ‘‘Operation Iraqi Freedom’’......Page 122
7. Conclusion: Preventive War in Perspective......Page 158
Epilogue: Preventive War in the Age of Terrorism and Rogue States......Page 176
Notes......Page 182
Bibliography......Page 214
Index......Page 234
