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Tag Tag Peace negotiations
Wars usually begin when two nations disagree on their relative strength, and wars usually cease when the fighting nations agree on their relative strength.
Geoffrey Blainey The Causes of War · 1973

Quotes

“While the breakdown of diplomacy reflects the belief of each nation that it will gain more by fighting than by negotiating, the breakdown of war reflects the belief of each nation that it will gain more by negotiating than by fighting.”

Geoffrey Blainey · The Causes of War, 1973 · Primary source

“When nations prepare to fight one another, they have contradictory expectations of the likely duration and outcome of the war. When those predictions, however, cease to be contradictory, the war is almost certain to end.”

Geoffrey Blainey · The Causes of War, 1973 · Primary source

Works

Geoffrey Blainey · 1973
The Causes of War

A historical study of why nations go to war, emphasising conflicting assessments of power and the conditions that make peace possible.

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Related Tags

Balance of power 3 Military strength 2 Miscalculation 2 Conflict resolution 4 Diplomacy 7 Strategic calculations 1 War termination 2 Conflicting expectations 1 Military miscalculation 1 Perceptions of victory 1 Origins of war 1 Military conflict 2