A Farewell to Wars: The Growing Restraints on the Interstate Use of Force

Hans Blix, a renowned international lawyer, diplomat, and head of UN Iraq inspections, examines the trend towards fewer wars since World War II and the Russian invasion of the Ukraine as a major aberration. He finds that new restraints on uses of force have emerged from nuclear war, economic interdependence, and UN Charter rules. States are increasingly using economic or cyber means to battle their adversaries, rejecting the fatalistic assumption that there will always be war. Blix suggests that leading powers are choosing to continue their competition for power and influence on the battlefields of economy and information.

Format: Unspecified
Length: 310 pages
Publication date: 23 November 2023
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Since the conclusion of World War II, a notable trend has emerged towards a reduction in the frequency of conflicts worldwide. However, the Russian invasion of the Ukraine in 2014 represents a significant deviation from this trend. Hans Blix, a renowned international lawyer, diplomat, and former head of UN Iraq inspections, has delved into the examination of conflicts and other developments post-World War II. In his comprehensive analysis, Blix identifies the emergence of new restraints on the use of force as a result of various factors. These include concerns about nuclear war, economic interdependence, and the principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter.

With a decrease in the pursuit of territorial conquest, states have increasingly resorted to economic or cyber-based strategies to confront their adversaries. While this shift presents its own set of risks, it should be viewed as a welcome alternative to the traditional methods of warfare. By closely examining these new restraints, Blix challenges the fatalistic notion that war is an inevitable part of human history. He suggests that leading powers are abandoning previous patterns of conflict, opting instead to continue their competition for power and influence on the economic and information battlefields.

In conclusion, the trend towards fewer wars since World War II has been accompanied by the emergence of new restraints on the use of force. These restraints are driven by a range of factors, including concerns about nuclear war, economic interdependence, and the principles of the United Nations Charter. While this shift presents its own challenges, it should be welcomed as a positive development, offering an alternative to the traditional methods of warfare. As Blix notes, leading powers are increasingly choosing to compete for power and influence on the economic and information battlefields, signaling a departure from previous patterns of conflict.

Weight: 616g
Dimension: 160 x 237 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781009392556