The belief that war is becoming obsolete has gained traction in recent years, but in Only the Dead, award-winning author Bear Braumoeller argues otherwise. Combining historical insight with statistical analysis and clear writing, Braumoeller challenges the decline-of-war thesis popularized by scholars like Steven Pinker. He posits that understanding warfare trends hinges on the formation of international orders—systems of expectations that enable countries to collaborate, as seen in the Concert of Europe and the postwar Western liberal order. Drawing inspiration from American sociologist Charles Tilly, who asserted that "war made the state and the state made war," Braumoeller contends that international orders, while reducing internal conflict, can lead to violent clashes between different systems, as demonstrated during the Cold War. This work offers a balanced view of humanity's efforts to eliminate warfare. Pessimists often overlook the successes in reducing international conflict, while optimists may overestimate human nature. The truth lies in between: while humanity has made significant strides in moderating realpolitik through reason and justice, the institutions designed to prevent war are unlikely to achieve complete success, as evidenced by ongoing conflicts. Ultimately, as the saying goes, only the dead have seen the end of war.
