The War Trap

by Bruce Bueno de Mesquita

“This illuminating work is a masterful study that delves into the causes of war using a wholly new approach. Utilizing the assumptions of rational behavior, de Mesquita focuses on the perspective of decision making as an attempt to understand the phenomenon of war. . . . The book is highly stimulating . . . provocative, and certainly quite timely. . . a superb example of methodological exposition . . . Likely to appeal to the serious scholar of social sciences in general and of international relations in particular.”―Ghulam M. Haniff, The annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science
“A major work. It is certain to inspire theoretical elaboration and refinement, additional testing of its propositions, and fruitful application. Moreover, it is destined to be considered a classic contribution to the scientific understanding of interstate conflict and war.”―Frank C. Zagare, American Political Science Review
“Rigorous and insightful analysis. . . . An important contribution to our theories of choice, relevant to all students of politics. The study is an exemplar in its development of systemic mini-theory accomplished by empirical tests of its propositions, completely worthy of emulation by those of us who profess to be political scientists , young and old.”―Harold Guetzkow
“A tour de force of theory, testing, and illustration.”―Brice M. Russett

Genres: Politics, International Relations, Political Science

226 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1981

About the author

Bruce Bueno de Mesquita is a political scientist, professor at New York University, and senior fellow at the Hoover Institution. He specializes in international relations, foreign policy, and nation building. He is also one of the authors of the selectorate theory.

He has founded a company, Mesquita & Roundell, that specializes in making political and foreign-policy forecasts using a computer model based on game theory and rational choice theory. He is also the director of New York University's Alexander Hamilton Center for Political Economy.

He was featured as the primary subject in the documentary on the History Channel in December 2008. The show, titled Next Nostradamus, details how the scientist is using computer algorithms to predict future world events.

Excerpted from Wikipedia.