The Costs of War: America's Pyrrhic Victories

by John V. Denson (Editor)

The greatest accomplishment of Western civilization is arguably the achievement of individual liberty through limits on the power of the state. In the war-torn twentieth century, we rarely hear that one of the main costs of armed conflict is long-term loss of liberty to winners and losers alike. Beyond the obvious and direct costs of dead and wounded soldiers, there is the lifetime struggle of veterans to live with their nightmares and their injuries; the hidden economic costs of inflation, debts, and taxes; and more generally the damages caused to our culture, our morality, and to civilization at large. The new edition is now available in paperback, with a number of new essays. It represents a large-scale collective effort to pierce the veils of myth and propaganda to reveal the true costs of war, above all, the cost to liberty. Central to this volume are the views of Ludwig von Mises on war and foreign policy. Mises argued that war, along with colonialism and imperialism, is the greatest enemy of freedom and prosperity, and that peace throughout the world cannot be achieved until the central governments of the major nations become limited in scope and power. In the spirit of these theorems by Mises, the contributors to this volume consider the costs of war generally and assess specific corrosive effects of major American wars since the Revolution. The first section includes chapters on the theoretical and institutional dimensions of the relationship between war and society, including conscription, infringements on freedom, the military as an engine of social change, war and literature, and the right of citizens to bear arms. The second group includes reconsiderations of Lincoln and Churchill, an analysis of the anti-interventionist idea in American politics, a discussion of the meaning of the "just war," an assessment of how World War I changed the course of Western civilization, and finally two eyewitness accounts of the true horrors of actual combat by veterans of World War II. The Costs of War is unique in its combination of historical scope and timeliness for current debates about foreign policy and military intervention. It will be of interest to historians, political scientists, economists, and sociologists.

Genres: History, Politics, American History, War, Nonfiction, Economics

450 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1997

Reviews

[Kenneth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book on the history of war in America. Mises Institute scholars fill the ranks of contributors.

The isolationist or ant-war instinct of the American people is here provided intellectual gravitas.

The revolution, the War of 1812, the Civil War, The Spanish American War, World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, etc., each were unnecessary conflicts when placed in historical context. History always demonstrates that the actors involved in the "fog of war" rarely see the forest for the trees.

World War I was largely the cause of religious progressives from puritan protestant churches who wished to further the inevitable Eschaton of revelation.

Likewise, The Civil War was fought for economic (tariffs) or legal reasons (Constitutional Interpretation). Ethical crusades followed only well after the war started and never fully convinced the leadership of the northern invaders either.

With regard to modern warfare, "America First" was an important representation of American politics that went all the back to Washington’s farewell address in the beginning of the Republic.

Support for isolation came from the most important men in the country, i.e. Henry Ford, Andrew Carnegie, the Taft family, William Randolph Hearst, Charles Lindbergh as well as men-of-letters, H.L Menken or Albert Jay Nock.

Murray Rothbard's essay defining "just war" in order to repel aggression is particularly noteworthy in remembering that the only "justified" wars in America were actually against the National State itself.

The American Revolution was fought to break the fetters of unjust Government, whereas the War of Northern Aggression was fought to protect the South from invasion from its own Government too.

Brilliant book that covers a depth of topics. Reminds the reader that opposition to war is not cowardice, but rather the more noble option.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you want to understand why governments fight wars and what the true effects on liberty are then this is the book. Beginning with The Civil War and moving into the 20th century we are shown how endless war only enhances the wealth and power of the State at the expense of the people.

[Jan Havel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Painful reading on the obvious: wars suck. It just hurts to see how much. Well collected essays going deep into the matter.

[Seth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book.