War - Control, Causes, Consequences

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War remains possible as long as individual states seek to ensure self-preservation and promote their individual interests and—in the absence of a reliable international agency to control the actions of other states—rely on their own efforts. It is no accident that reforms of the international system figure prominently in many prescriptions for the prevention of war. 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War remains possible as long as individual states seek to ensure self-preservation and promote their individual interests and—in the absence of a reliable international agency to control the actions of other states—rely on their own efforts. It is no accident that reforms of the international system figure prominently in many prescriptions for the prevention of war. Whereas the reform of human propensities or of the state is bound to be a long"/> <meta property="og:type" content="ARTICLE"/> <meta property="og:title" content="War - Control, Causes, Consequences | Britannica"/> <meta property="og:description" content="War - Control, Causes, Consequences: The international environment within which states and the people within them operate is regarded by many theorists as the major factor determining the occurrence and nature of wars. War remains possible as long as individual states seek to ensure self-preservation and promote their individual interests and—in the absence of a reliable international agency to control the actions of other states—rely on their own efforts. It is no accident that reforms of the international system figure prominently in many prescriptions for the prevention of war. 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[{"p":7,"t":635532},{"p":6,"t":291225},{"p":8,"t":467721},{"p":2,"t":35537},{"p":2,"t":588371},{"p":2,"t":493722},{"p":14,"t":382397},{"p":6,"t":721819},{"p":30,"t":648646},{"p":122,"t":2085155}], "sequence": 5, "topics": {} }); </script> <article class="article-content container-lg qa-content px-0 pt-0 pb-40 py-lg-20 content md-expanded" data-topic-id="635532"> <div class="grid gx-0"> <div class="col-auto"> <div class="topic-left-rail md-article-drawer position-relative d-flex border-right-sm border-left-sm open"> <div class="drawer d-flex flex-column open"> <div class="left-rail-section-content"> <div class="topic-left-rail-header text-truncate bg-gray-50 position-relative text-right d-flex align-items-center"> <div class="tlr-title px-20 py-15 text-left"> <em class="material-icons text-gray-400 d-lg-none" data-icon="toc"></em> <a class="font-serif font-weight-bold text-black link-blue" href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/war">war</a> </div> <button aria-label="Close" class="js-sections-close-button btn-link btn-sm btn d-lg-none position-absolute top-0 p-10 right-0" > <em class="material-icons font-26" data-icon="close"></em> </button> </div> <div class="section-content pl-10 pr-20 pl-sm-50 pr-sm-60 pl-lg-5 pr-lg-10 pt-10 pt-lg-0 bg-gray-50 clear-catfish-ad"> <div class="toc mb-20"> <div class="font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mx-15 mb-15 mt-20"> Table of Contents </div> <ul class="list-unstyled my-0" data-level="h1"><li data-target="#ref1"><div class="pl-25"><a class="link-gray-900 w-100" href="/topic/war">Introduction</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"></div></li><li data-target="#ref53510"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><div class="ml-25"></div><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/war#ref53510">Evolution of theories of war</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"></div></li><li data-target="#ref53511"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/war/The-causes-of-war">The causes of war</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref53512"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/war/The-causes-of-war#ref53512">Biological theories</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref53513"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/war/The-causes-of-war#ref53513">Ethology</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref53514"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/war/The-causes-of-war#ref53514">Psychology</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref53515"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/war/Social-theories">Social theories</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref53516"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/war/Social-theories#ref53516">Liberal analyses</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref53517"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/war/Social-theories#ref53517">Socialist analyses</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref53518"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/war/Nationalism">Nationalism</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref53519"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/war/Nationalism#ref53519">Special-interest groups</a></li></ul></li></ul></div></li><li data-target="#ref53520"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="h1-link-drawer-button btn btn-xs btn-circle d-flex rounded" type="button" aria-label="Toggle Heading"><em class="material-icons font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></em></button><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/war/The-control-of-war">The control of war</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref53521"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/war/The-control-of-war#ref53521">Diplomacy</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref53522"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/war/The-control-of-war#ref53522">Regional integration</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref53523"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/war/International-law">International law</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref53524"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/war/International-law#ref53524">The United Nations</a><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref53525"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/war/International-law#ref53525">Peaceful settlement of disputes</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref53526"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/war/International-law#ref53526">Collective security</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref53527"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/war/International-law#ref53527">Disarmament</a></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h3"><li data-target="#ref53528"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/war/International-law#ref53528">Limiting conflict</a></li></ul></li></ul><ul class="list-unstyled" data-level="h2"><li data-target="#ref53529"><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/topic/war/World-government">World government</a></li></ul></div></li></ul> <a class="toc-extra-link link-gray-900" href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/war/additional-info">References & Edit History</a> <a class="toc-extra-link link-gray-900" href="/facts/war">Quick Facts & Related Topics</a> </div> <div class="tlr-media-slider pb-10 mb-30"> <a class="section-header link-gray-900 font-serif 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Author of <i>The Making of Foreign Policy </i>and others.</div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor text-decoration-underline"> Joseph Frankel</span></div> <div class="font-serif font-12 text-gray-700"> <span class="qa-fact-checked-by">Fact-checked by</span> <div class="editor-popover popover p-0"> <a class="d-block p-20 qa-editor-popup font-12" href="/editor/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica/4419" > <div class="editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold">The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</div> <div class="editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 text-black">Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.</div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link font-12 "> The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</span></div> <div class="last-updated font-12 font-serif"> <span class="text-gray-700"> Last Updated: <time datetime="2025-01-23T00:00:00CST" >Jan 23, 2025</time> •</span> <a class="byline-edit-history" href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/war/additional-info#history" rel="nofollow">Article History</a> </div></div> </div> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button d-none d-sm-block js-sections-inline-button module-spacing btn d-lg-none"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <div class="d-flex d-sm-none flex-row"> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button js-sections-inline-button module-spacing"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <button class="ai-ask-button btn border-2 ai-ask-button btn border-2 module-spacing btn-sm js-inline-ai-ask-button btn-outline-red-400 border-red-400 p-10 ml-5"> Ask the Chatbot a Question </button> </div> <div class="js-qf-module qf-module px-40 px-sm-20 py-15 mx-auto module-spacing font-14 bg-gray-50 rounded"> <div class="facts-list mt-10"> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Key People: </dt> <dd><a href="/biography/Charlemagne" topicid="106546">Charlemagne</a></dd> <dd><a href="/biography/Alexander-the-Great" topicid="14224">Alexander the Great</a></dd> <dd><a href="/biography/Elizabeth-I" topicid="184810">Elizabeth I</a></dd> <dd><a href="/biography/Genghis-Khan" topicid="229093">Genghis Khan</a></dd> <dd><a href="/biography/Justinian-I" topicid="308858">Justinian I</a></dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Related Topics: </dt> <dd><a href="/topic/tactics" topicid="580081">tactics</a></dd> <dd><a href="/topic/logistics-military" topicid="346423">logistics</a></dd> <dd><a href="/topic/strategy-military" topicid="568259">strategy</a></dd> <dd><a href="/topic/law-of-war" topicid="721819">law of war</a></dd> <dd><a href="/topic/guerrilla-warfare" topicid="248353">guerrilla warfare</a></dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> <div class="text-center"> <a class="btn btn-sm btn-link p-0" href="/facts/war"> See all related content </a> </div> </div> </div> </div><div class="bg-gray-50 p-15 rounded module-spacing recent-news d-flex flex-column float-false"> <div> <h2 class="font-weight-bold font-14 m-0 d-inline"> News <span class="text-gray-600">•</span> </h2> <div class="recent-news-item first-recent-news-item d-inline"> <a class="font-14 gtm-ap-news-link" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/17/world/middleeast/gaza-returning-home-after-war.html" rel="nofollow">After 15 Months of War, Gazans Dream of Returning Home</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Jan. 18, 2025, 4:05 AM ET (New York Times) </span> </div> </div> <div class="rest-of-recent-news-items"> <button class="js-toggle-recent-news d-flex btn btn-unstyled font-14 pr-10 rounded-sm mt-10" aria-label="Toggle additional news items"> Show less <em class="material-icons" data-icon="expand_less"></em> </button> </div> </div><span class="marker before-article"></span><span class="marker h4"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref53520"> <span class="marker PREMOD1 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">The international <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="environment" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/environment" data-type="MW">environment</a> within which states and the people within them operate is regarded by many theorists as the major factor determining the occurrence and nature of wars. War remains possible as long as individual states seek to ensure self-preservation and promote their individual interests and—in the absence of a reliable international agency to control the actions of other states—rely on their own efforts. It is no accident that reforms of the international system figure prominently in many prescriptions for the prevention of war. Whereas the reform of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/human-being" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">human</a> <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="propensities" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/propensities" data-type="MW">propensities</a> or of the state is bound to be a long drawn-out affair if it is at all possible, relatively straightforward partial reforms of the international system may produce significant restraints upon resorting to war, and a thorough reform could make war impossible.</p><span class="marker MOD1 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD2 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Some theorists, being more optimistic about the nature of states, concentrate upon the removal of the fear and suspicion of other states, which is characteristic of the present as well as of all historical political systems; others, being less optimistic, think mainly of possible controls and restraints upon the behaviour of states. The underlying reasoning of both parties is generally similar. If individual states in competitive situations are governed by a short-term <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="conception" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/conception" data-type="MW">conception</a> of their interests, <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="acute" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/acute" data-type="MW">acute</a> conflicts between them will occur and will show a strong tendency to <span id="ref511738"></span>escalate. Thus, one state erects a tariff barrier to protect its industry against the competition of a trade partner, and the partner retaliates, the retaliatory interaction being repeated until the two countries find themselves in a trade war. Armaments races show a similar tendency to escalate, particularly so in an age of rapid technological change. The economic and scientific efforts necessary to avoid falling behind rivals in the invention and development of rapidly improving weapons of mass destruction have already reached unprecedented heights. And yet, neither trade wars nor arms races necessarily end in violent conflict. There seem to be operating some restraining and <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="inhibiting" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inhibiting" data-type="MW">inhibiting</a> factors that prevent an automatic escalation. Much of the theory of war concerns itself with the identification, improvement, and development of these restraining factors.</p><span class="marker MOD2 mod-inline"></span> <section data-level="2" id="ref53521"><h2 class="h2"><span id="ref511739"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/diplomacy" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Diplomacy</a></h2> <span class="marker PREMOD3 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">The outcome of starkly competitive behaviour leading to wars is clearly against the interests of states, and it is rational for them to seek more desirable outcomes. If competitive behaviour is dangerous, theorists seek for <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="alternative" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alternative" data-type="MW">alternative</a> methods of cooperative behaviour that would not jeopardize the interests of the state through exposing it to the possibly less cooperative behaviour of others. Some theorists concentrate upon improving the rationality of the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/decision-making" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">decision making</a> of individual states through a better understanding of the international environment, through eliminating misperceptions and irrational fears, and through making clear the full possible costs of engaging in war and the full destructiveness of an all-out war, possible in our age.</p><span class="marker MOD3 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD4 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies"><div class="w-100"><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="111774" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/96/115196-050-EAEE0BB7/Battle-of-the-Pyramids-canvas-Louis-Francois-Lejeune-1806.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/635532/111774"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/96/115196-050-EAEE0BB7/Battle-of-the-Pyramids-canvas-Louis-Francois-Lejeune-1806.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/96/115196-050-EAEE0BB7/Battle-of-the-Pyramids-canvas-Louis-Francois-Lejeune-1806.jpg?w=300" alt="The Battle of the Pyramids" data-width="1600" data-height="694" loading="eager"></picture><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/96/115196-050-EAEE0BB7/Battle-of-the-Pyramids-canvas-Louis-Francois-Lejeune-1806.jpg" data-href="/media/1/635532/111774">The Battle of the Pyramids</a><span><em>The Battle of the Pyramids</em>, oil on canvas by Louis-François Lejeune, 1806; in the Château de Versailles.</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div><p class="topic-paragraph">The relative paucity of wars and their <span id="ref511740"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/limited-warfare" class="md-crosslink ">limited</a> nature throughout the century following the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/event/Napoleonic-Wars" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Napoleonic Wars</a> (1815–1914) stirred great theoretical interest in the nature of the <span id="ref511741"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/balance-of-power" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">balance-of-power</a> system of that period—that is, in the process by which the power of competing groups of states tended toward a condition of <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="equilibrium" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/equilibrium" data-type="MW">equilibrium</a>. Contributing to the successful operation of the balance-of-power system of the 19th century were relatively slow technological change, great diversionary opportunities for industrial and colonial expansion, and the ideological and cultural <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="homogeneity" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/homogeneity" data-type="MW">homogeneity</a> of Europe. Pursuit of a <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/balance-of-power" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">balance of power</a> is a way of conducting <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/foreign-policy" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">foreign policy</a> that is perhaps less prone to war than other types of policy because, instead of indiscriminately increasing their power, states increase it only moderately, so as not to provoke others; and instead of joining the strongest, they join the weaker side in order to ensure balance. States in a balance-of-power system must, however, be ready to <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="abide" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/abide" data-type="MW">abide</a> by constraints upon their behaviour in order to ensure stability of the system.</p><span class="marker MOD4 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD5 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">The application to <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/international-relations" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">international relations</a> of a branch of <span id="ref511742"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/mathematics" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">mathematics</a>—<span id="ref511743"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/game-theory" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">game theory</a>—that analyzes the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/strategy-military" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">strategy</a> of conflict situations has provided a new tool of analysis. In state interaction, as in any game situation, one side’s strategy generally depends upon that side’s expectations of the other side’s strategy. If all sides in a game are to maximize their chances of a satisfactory outcome, it is necessary that some rational rules of behaviour be conceptualized and agreed upon, and this idea of a set of rational rules can be applied to competing states in the international system. Game theorists distinguish <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="antagonistic" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/antagonistic" data-type="EB">antagonistic</a> situations called <span id="ref511744"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/constant-sum-game" class="md-crosslink ">zero-sum games</a>, in which one state’s gain can be only at the expense of another state because the “payoff” is fixed. Even then a mutually acceptable distribution of gains can be rationally reached on the basis of the “<span id="ref511745"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/mini-max-theorem" class="md-crosslink ">minimax</a>” principle—the party in a position of advantage satisfies itself with the minimum acceptable gain because it realizes that the other party, in a position of disadvantage, would yield on the basis of its possible minimum loss but would violently oppose a distribution even more to its detriment. In other situations, called <span id="ref511746"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/variable-sum-game" class="md-crosslink ">non-zero-sum games</a>, the payoff is not constant but can be increased by a cooperative approach; the gain of one participant is not at the cost of another. The contestants, however, have to agree about the distribution of the gain, which is the product of their cooperation.</p><div class="module-spacing"> </div><span class="marker MOD5 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD6 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">The theory of games is the foundation of theories of bargaining that analyze the behaviour of individual states in interaction. Diplomacy based upon such theories is less likely to lead to war. Policymakers pursuing such strategies will conduct conflicts of the zero-sum type so that war is avoided. More than that, with some skill, such situations can be transformed into the non-zero-sum type by introducing additional benefits <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="accruing" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/accruing" data-type="MW">accruing</a> from cooperation in other interactions and also, more generally, by eliminating the likelihood of war and, consequently, by reducing the costs of preparing for one.</p><span class="marker MOD6 mod-inline"></span></section> <section data-level="2" id="ref53522"><h2 class="h2"><span id="ref511747"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/regional-integration" class="md-crosslink ">Regional integration</a></h2> <span class="marker PREMOD7 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Because wars within states have been eliminated through the establishment of suitable political structures, such as central governments that hold a monopoly of coercive power, many theories concentrate upon the establishment of <span id="ref511749"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/international-agreement" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">parallel structures</a> within the <span id="ref511748"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/international-organization" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">international context</a>. Regional <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="integration" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/integration" data-type="MW">integration</a> (cooperation in <span id="ref511750"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/European-Community-European-economic-association" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">economic</a>, social, and political affairs, as, for example, within the European Union) and the establishment of security <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="communities" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/communities" data-type="MW">communities</a> (such as the <span id="ref511751"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/North-Atlantic-Treaty-Organization" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">North Atlantic Treaty Organization</a>) have made much greater advances than attempts at the reform of the entire global international system.</p><span class="marker MOD7 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD8 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">Because conflicts among neighbours tend to be frequent, regional integration is an important advance toward reducing the incidence of war. Even if it were to become generally successful, however, regional integration would simply shift the problem of war to a different level: there would be fewer possibilities of war because intraregional conflicts would be contained, but interregional conflicts could still give rise to wars of much greater scope and severity. The phenomenon of <span id="ref511752"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/law-of-war" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">war</a> must, therefore, be analyzed at the universal level.</p><span class="marker MOD8 mod-inline"></span></section> </section><span class="marker end-of-content"></span><span class="marker after-article"></span></div> <div id="chatbot-root"></div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ai-dialog-placeholder"></div> </div> </div> <aside class="col-md-da-320"></aside> </div> </div> </div> </div> </article> </div> </div> </div> </div> </main> <div id="md-footer"></div> <noscript><iframe src="//www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-5W6NC8" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript> <script type="text/javascript" id="_informizely_script_tag"> var IzWidget = IzWidget || {}; (function (d) { var scriptElement = d.createElement('script'); scriptElement.type = 'text/javascript'; scriptElement.async = true; scriptElement.src = "https://insitez.blob.core.windows.net/site/f780f33e-a610-4ac2-af81-3eb184037547.js"; var node = d.getElementById('_informizely_script_tag'); node.parentNode.insertBefore(scriptElement, node); } )(document); </script>  <script> window.ap3c = window.ap3c || {}; var ap3c = window.ap3c; ap3c.cmd = ap3c.cmd || []; ap3c.cmd.push(function() { ap3c.init('ZO4siT4cLwnykPnzZWJtd3Byb2Q', 'https://engage.email.britannica.com/'); ap3c.track({v: 0}); }); ap3c.activity = function(act) { ap3c.act = (ap3c.act || []); ap3c.act.push(act); }; var s, t; s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.src = "https://engage.email.britannica.com/app.js"; t = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; t.parentNode.insertBefore(s, t); </script> <script class="marketing-page-info" type="application/json"> {"pageType":"Topic","templateName":"DESKTOP","pageNumber":5,"pagesTotal":7,"pageId":635532,"pageLength":1173,"initialLoad":true,"lastPageOfScroll":false} </script> <script class="marketing-content-info" type="application/json"> [] </script> <script src="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-133/js/libs/jquery-3.5.0.min.js?v=3.133.9"></script> <script type="text/javascript" data-type="Init Mendel Code Splitting"> (function() { $.ajax({ dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: 'https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-133/dist/topic-page.js?v=3.133.9' }); })(); </script> <script class="analytics-metadata" type="application/json"> {"leg":"B","adLeg":"B","userType":"ANONYMOUS","pageType":"Topic","pageSubtype":null,"articleTemplateType":"PAGINATED","gisted":false,"pageNumber":5,"hasSummarizeButton":false,"hasAskButton":true} </script> <script type="text/javascript"> EBStat={accountId:-1,hostnameOverride:'webstats.eb.com',domain:'www.britannica.com', json:''}; </script> <script type="text/javascript"> ( function() { $.ajax( { dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: '//www.britannica.com/webstats/mendelstats.js?v=1' } ) .done( function() { try {writeStat(null,EBStat);} catch(err){} } ); })(); </script> <div id="bc-fixed-dialogue"></div> </body> </html>

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War - Control, Causes, Consequences | Britannica