GV-506: week 6 Conditions for Interstate Wars: War as a costly choice
Conflict under the prism of social psychology ► Conflict as a process driven by collective needs and fears ► Conflict as a complicated, multifaceted process ► Conflict as an interactive and escalatory dynamic
Psychological factors that lead to conflict ► Collective moods (e.g. ethnic mobilization) ► Formation of group loyalties ► Predisposition towards negotiation and bargaining ► Formation of mirror images
Systemic Level ► Power distribution Unipolar, bipolar, or multipolar Information structure of the international system Balance or bandwagon ► Competition over resources (territory) Hence, contiguity as a factor ► Arms races ► Migration, population movement ► Impact of environmental constraints: Does environmental destruction lead to conflict? Domestic or international ► Globalization Increasing or mitigating conflict? ► Technological changes: Offensive vs. Defensive weapons
Individual Level: decision making process ► Security dilemma ► Prisoner’s dilemma and fear due to incomplete information ► Risk values of leaders ► Psychological and cognitive factors ► Expected utility: war as a cost-benefit analysis to promote national interests