War and Society

War is a paradox. On the one hand, it destroys bodies and destroys communities. On the other hand, it is responsible for some of the strongest human bonds and has been the genesis of many of our most fundamental institutions.  

War and Society addresses these paradoxes while providing a sociological exploration of this enigmatic phenomenon which has played a central role in human history, wielded an incredible power over human lives, and commanded intellectual questioning for countless generations. The authors offer an analytical account of the origins of war, its historical development, and its consequences for individuals and societies, adopting a comparative approach throughout. It ends with an appraisal of the contemporary role of war, looking to the future of warfare and the fundamental changes in the nature of violent conflict which we are starting to witness.

This short, readable and engaging book will be an ideal reading for upper-level students of political sociology, military sociology, and related subjects.

Miguel Angel Centeno is Musgrave Professor of Sociology and Professor of International Affairs

Elaine Enriquez is a Research Fellow at Princeton University

Acknowledgements
Introduction
Chapter 1: The Nature of War
Violence and Aggression
War as Organized Violence
A Paradox of War: Organization and Anarchy
War as a Human Construct
The Causes of War
Explaining War
Chapter 2: War of the Warrior
The Horror of Battle
Brutality
Making Warriors
Military Values
Duty and Discipline
Chapter 3: War of Armies
Origins of Battle
The Phalanx, the Fleet, and the Legion
The Return of the Horse
Military Revolution: Gunpowder
The Birth of Total War: Napoleon’s Revolution and the American Civil War
A Century of War
Explaining the Progress of War
Chapter 4: War of Societies
Conquest
Genocide
Strategic Bombing
Nuclear Armageddon
Chapter 5: How Wars Build
Wars and Big Outcomes
Militaries and the Individual
Chapter 6: War and Society in the Twenty-First century
The End of Empires
The Limits of Firepower: Vietnam, Afghanistan, and Iraq
Who Will Serve? The Changing Demographics of the Military
Conclusion
References