In this book Professor Holsti approaches the study of the origins of war and the foundations of peace from a distinct perspective. He asks three interrelated questions. Which issues generate conflict? How have attitudes towards war changed? And what attempts have been made historically to create international orders and institutions that can manage control or prevent international conflicts? Starting with the peace treaties of Munster and Osnabruck of 1648 Kalevi Holsti examines 177 international wars. Through these he identifies the variety of conflict-producing issues and how they as well as the attitudes of policy makers to the use of force have changed over the last 350 years. He demonstrates how the orders established by the great peacemaking efforts of 1648 1713 1815 1919 and 1945 attempted to solve the issues of the past yet few successfully anticipated those of the future. Indeed some created the basis of fresh conflicts. Language: English