Gregory A. Raymond Knihy

The authors of this groundbreaking book take as a point of departure the precedent-setting agreements established by the Treaties of Westphalia to illuminate the options for maintaining peace. The book describes the system of world order established by the Peace of Westphalia and offers readers an evaluation of its relevance for the increasingly globalized world of the early twenty-fist century, as well as proposing an alternative system of global governance. Provides comprehensive coverage of the causes of great-powers war, the evolutionary course of the Thirty Years' War, durable peace settlements, the relevance of Thirty Years' War to today's environment, and offers an alternative model of world order. For individuals interested in international relations and global issues.

Focusing on the influence of international norms, this book challenges traditional views on war's onset by rejecting the emphasis on material capabilities like wealth and military strength. It critiques the realist perspective that international legal norms are ineffective without a central authority, arguing instead that the normative context shapes national leaders' actions. Through quantitative analysis, the author illustrates how restrictive normative orders can decrease the likelihood of armed conflict, offering a fresh lens on power, morality, and the dynamics of world politics.

Offering a consistent, future-oriented perspective, this important new study considers the positions of the United States and other world powers in a changing international system and outlines the priorities and constraints that may govern the conduct of American foreign policy in the decades to come. Focusing primarily on the breakdown of the bipolar system and its replacement by a multipolar system, the authors provide an analysis of great-power relations before and during the Cold War - one that challenges some of the prevailing notions about the lessons of the Cold War, examine the recent changes in international alliances and the future role that transnational actors may take in minimizing conflict, and consider the different arrangements under which this multipolar system can provide the most favorable environment for world peace.