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.

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.

AcknowledgementsIntroductionChapter 1: The Nature of WarViolence and AggressionWar as Organized ViolenceA Paradox of War: Organization and AnarchyWar as a Human ConstructThe Causes of WarExplaining WarChapter 2: War of the WarriorThe Horror of BattleBrutalityMaking WarriorsMilitary ValuesDuty and DisciplineChapter 3: War of ArmiesOrigins of BattleThe Phalanx, the Fleet, and the LegionThe Return of the HorseMilitary Revolution: GunpowderThe Birth of Total War: Napoleon's Revolution and the American Civil WarA Century of WarExplaining the Progress of WarChapter 4: War of SocietiesConquestGenocideStrategic BombingNuclear ArmageddonChapter 5: How Wars BuildWars and Big OutcomesMilitaries and the IndividualChapter 6: War and Society in the Twenty-First centuryThe End of EmpiresThe Limits of Firepower: Vietnam, Afghanistan, and IraqWho Will Serve? The Changing Demographics of the MilitaryConclusionReferences