Do New Weapons Cause War?

• In Event: Weapons and Arms Transfers

Abstract

In this paper, I answer the question: Do New Weapons Cause War? I examine whether and under what conditions new weapons technologies have helped cause conflicts. Do weapons themselves lead to shift in power or changes in the offense / defense balance in ways that leaders consider before initiating conflict? Some of our theories about the causes of war depend entirely on changes in weapons technologies, while other like preventive war incentives and windows of opportunity may depend to some degree on the influence of these technologies.

Cases include the new Japanese torpedo before Pearl Harbor, railways in Prussia, the long bow, precision guided bombs, and the needle gun, among others. I argue, based on preliminary evidence, that new weapons can help hawks persuade doves and fence – sitters in cabinet and similar meetings that the war under consideration is winnable.

I examine whether and under what conditions new weapons technologies have helped cause conflicts. I argue that new weapons can help hawks persuade doves and fence–sitters in cabinet and similar meetings that the war under consideration is winnable.

Author

• Dan Lindley, University of Notre Dame