"War . . . is merely an idea, an institution, like dueling or slavery, that has been grafted onto human existence. It is not a trick of fate, a thunderbolt from hell, a natural calamity, or a desperate plot contrivance dreamed up by some sadistic puppeteer on high. And it seems to me that the institution is in pronounced decline, abandoned as attitudes toward it have changed, roughly following the pattern by which the ancient and formidable institution of slavery became discredited and then mostly obsolete."-from the IntroductionWar is one of the great themes of human history and now, John Mueller believes, it is clearly declining. Developed nations have generally abandoned it as a way for conducting their relations with other countries, and most current warfare (though not all) is opportunistic predation waged by packs-often remarkably small ones-of criminals and bullies. Thus, argues Mueller, war has been substantially reduced to its remnants-or dregs-and thugs are the residual combatants.Mueller is sensitive to the policy implications of this view. When developed states commit disciplined troops to peacekeeping, the result is usually a rapid cessation of murderous disorder. The Remnants of War thus reinvigorates our sense of the moral responsibility bound up in peacekeeping. In Mueller's view, capable domestic policing and military forces can also be effective in reestablishing civic order, and the building of competent governments is key to eliminating most of what remains of warfare.
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Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Since around 1700, humanity has increasingly opposed violence of all kinds, Ohio State policy analyst Mueller argues. For him, war is an idea, like dueling or slavery, that over time became embedded in human behavior, and whose appeal and legitimacy are now in profound decline. Better quality of life, the expansion of democracy, the development of international norms and institutions, and increasingly destructive war-making technologies are major factors. Yet if war is declining, warfare persists in the form of domestic conflicts that Mueller regards as a consequence of inadequate governments. Mueller’s solution proposes to improve states’ policing efficiency and effectiveness, making them better able to deal with what he calls "residual warfare" within their borders. The argument depends heavily on Mueller’s thesis that the various forms of conflict prominent after the Cold War—terrorism, ethnic conflicts, "criminal war" like that still racking the former Yugoslavia—are not wars but policing problems, requiring a constabulary approach. Mueller’s case is essentially semantic, based on a limited definition of war as highly organized conflict between highly developed societies; many of the conflicts he describes as "thuggish remnants" feature sophisticated weapons and make comprehensive use of modern electronics. And what happens if the newly effective states he postulates subsequently turn their attention outward? Mueller’s case finally depends more on inference than evidence.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Review
"In this book John Mueller charts the continuing decline of one of the oldest and most important of all human practices. The Remnants of War is a powerful and provocative account of the fate of war in our time."-Michael Mandelbaum, Christian A. Herter Professor of American Foreign Policy, The Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, and author of The Ideas That Conquered the World: Peace, Democracy and Free Markets in the Twenty-First Century
"John Mueller has written another extremely stimulating and suitably cantankerous book."-Richard Rosecrance, University of California, Los Angeles
"Since around 1700, humanity has increasingly opposed violence of all kinds, Ohio State policy analyst Mueller argues. For him, war is an idea, like dueling or slavery, that over time became embedded in human behavior, and whose appeal and legitimacy are now in profound decline. Better quality of life, the expansion of democracy, the development of international norms and institutions, and increasingly destructive war-making technologies are major factors. Yet if war is declining, warfare persists in the form of domestic conflicts that Mueller regards as a consequence of inadequate governments. Mueller's solution proposes to improve states' policing efficiency and effectiveness, making them better able to deal with what he calls 'residual warfare' within their borders."-Publishers Weekly, July 2004
"Mueller argues that war is similar to slavery, as both an institution and a belief. As such, major war, like slavery, has been condemned by developed nations and certainly after the Cold War has been used rarely. . . . Well researched and well organized, with clear, original arguments . . . , this thought-provoking piece will have tremendous policy implications as nations, especially the United States, structure their militaries to deal with these smaller policing actions."-Library Journal, August 2004
"A brilliantly original and urgent book."-Gregg Easterbrook, The New Republic, May 30, 2005
"It is refreshing to read a book about war that is optimistic and hopeful. John Mueller's The Remnants of War is both of these things. His thesis is that the idea of war is going the same way as the idea of slavery-it is becoming obsolete. . . . He argues that there is evidence that good governance is spreading, and that policing wars are increasingly unattractive."-Claire Thomas, Journal of Peace Research, November 2005
"Mueller's is a sweeping, multifaceted, and complex argument that speaks to multiple research programs in political science, generates several policy recommendations, and addresses central issues of our time. I found the parts on the decline of major war, in particular, to be absolutely fascinating, and the effort to conceptualize violent conflict on a continuum going from small crime to terrorism to be very stimulating. In short, this is a nice example of a rich and erudite book that speaks to a larger public without sacrificing scholarly thoroughness."-Stathis N. Kalyvas, Perspectives on Politics
"Mueller's book is smnart and provocative, and it should inspire a wider examination of how warfare has changed, as a whole, over the last century."-Jeremy Suri, Political Science Quarterly, Summer 2005)
"John Mueller has written another extremely stimulating and suitably cantankerous book."-Richard Rosecrance, University of California, Los Angeles
"Since around 1700, humanity has increasingly opposed violence of all kinds, Ohio State policy analyst Mueller argues. For him, war is an idea, like dueling or slavery, that over time became embedded in human behavior, and whose appeal and legitimacy are now in profound decline. Better quality of life, the expansion of democracy, the development of international norms and institutions, and increasingly destructive war-making technologies are major factors. Yet if war is declining, warfare persists in the form of domestic conflicts that Mueller regards as a consequence of inadequate governments. Mueller's solution proposes to improve states' policing efficiency and effectiveness, making them better able to deal with what he calls 'residual warfare' within their borders."-Publishers Weekly, July 2004
"Mueller argues that war is similar to slavery, as both an institution and a belief. As such, major war, like slavery, has been condemned by developed nations and certainly after the Cold War has been used rarely. . . . Well researched and well organized, with clear, original arguments . . . , this thought-provoking piece will have tremendous policy implications as nations, especially the United States, structure their militaries to deal with these smaller policing actions."-Library Journal, August 2004
"A brilliantly original and urgent book."-Gregg Easterbrook, The New Republic, May 30, 2005
"It is refreshing to read a book about war that is optimistic and hopeful. John Mueller's The Remnants of War is both of these things. His thesis is that the idea of war is going the same way as the idea of slavery-it is becoming obsolete. . . . He argues that there is evidence that good governance is spreading, and that policing wars are increasingly unattractive."-Claire Thomas, Journal of Peace Research, November 2005
"Mueller's is a sweeping, multifaceted, and complex argument that speaks to multiple research programs in political science, generates several policy recommendations, and addresses central issues of our time. I found the parts on the decline of major war, in particular, to be absolutely fascinating, and the effort to conceptualize violent conflict on a continuum going from small crime to terrorism to be very stimulating. In short, this is a nice example of a rich and erudite book that speaks to a larger public without sacrificing scholarly thoroughness."-Stathis N. Kalyvas, Perspectives on Politics
"Mueller's book is smnart and provocative, and it should inspire a wider examination of how warfare has changed, as a whole, over the last century."-Jeremy Suri, Political Science Quarterly, Summer 2005)
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Very Interesting Thesis,
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This review is from: The Remnants of War (Cornell Studies in Security Affairs) (Hardcover)
An interesting book that claims that war is an outdated concept and is obsolete. Although many (including myself) would take issue with this thesis, this is a through provoking work worth a look. My personal favorite item is the table comparing the death totals of the various Rambo movies. Hats off to you Dr. Mueller, you have provoked thought and discussion in a creative manner.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A political book that gives you hope,
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This review is from: The Remnants of War (Cornell Studies in Security Affairs) (Paperback)
Mueller's Retreat from Doomsday was one of the best books I read in college and this follow-up is just as good. Mueller takes the long view of war and shows that the devastating wars among nation states of the 19th and 20th centuries are disappearing.What is left are wars against bandits, insurrections and terrorists, the modern equivalents of barbarians. Militarily they are no match for organized military forces. I think he underestimates international organizations like Al Qaida who show the ability to organize simultaneous strikes and a willingness to sacrifice their lives. But I think his larger point that wars among nations have become rare is a good one worth study, discussion and, if true, celebration.
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Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
In October 1990, three months before ordering half a million troops into combat in the Gulf War of 1991, U.S. general Norman Schwarzkopf observed, "War is a profanity because, let's face it, you've got two opposing sides trying to settle their differences by killing as many of each other as they can." Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
criminal warfare, disciplined warfare, policing wars, war aversion, policing troops, criminal combatants, thuggish regimes, warlord bands, private military companies, notion that war, vicious regimes, criminal armies, policing forces, civil warfare Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Cold War, United States, Soviet Union, North Korea, Gulf War, United Nations, Sierra Leone, Saddam Hussein, American Civil War, East Timor, Latin America, Middle East, Adolf Hitler, Security Council, Korean War, Mein Kampf, North Vietnamese, South Vietnam, Thirty Years War, Executive Outcomes, Napoleonic Wars, Northern Ireland, Southeast Asia, Pearl Harbor, Seven Years War New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Surprise Me!
In October 1990, three months before ordering half a million troops into combat in the Gulf War of 1991, U.S. general Norman Schwarzkopf observed, "War is a profanity because, let's face it, you've got two opposing sides trying to settle their differences by killing as many of each other as they can." Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
criminal warfare, disciplined warfare, policing wars, war aversion, policing troops, criminal combatants, thuggish regimes, warlord bands, private military companies, notion that war, vicious regimes, criminal armies, policing forces, civil warfare Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Cold War, United States, Soviet Union, North Korea, Gulf War, United Nations, Sierra Leone, Saddam Hussein, American Civil War, East Timor, Latin America, Middle East, Adolf Hitler, Security Council, Korean War, Mein Kampf, North Vietnamese, South Vietnam, Thirty Years War, Executive Outcomes, Napoleonic Wars, Northern Ireland, Southeast Asia, Pearl Harbor, Seven Years War New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 100
books:
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18
books
cite this book:
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- Violence in Colombia: The Contemporary Crisis in Historical Perspective by Charles W.;Penaranda, Ricardo;Sanchez G., Gonzalo Bergquist in Back Matter (1), Back Matter (2), and Back Matter (3)
- The Jewish War: Revised Edition (Penguin Classics) by Flavius Josephus on page 41, and Back Matter
- Baroque Personae by Rosario Villari in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
- The Dutch Revolt by Geoffrey Parker on page 113, and Back Matter
- Historical Dimensions of National Security Problems (National Security Studies Series) by Klaus Knorr in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
See all 100 books this book cites
- Failing to Win: Perceptions of Victory and Defeat in International Politics by Dominic D. P. Johnson on 4 pages
- The Cambridge History of Warfare by Geoffrey Parker in Back Matter (1), Back Matter (2), and Back Matter (3)
- American Foreign Policy in a New Era by Robert Jervis in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
- The Lessons of Lebanon: The Economics of War and Development (Library of Modern Middle East Studies) by Samir Makdisi in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
- Understanding Civil War: Evidence and Analysis, Vol. 1--Africa by Paul Collier on page 156, and page 333
See all 18 books citing this book
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