Research Seed Grant | 2003-2004
The Changing Meaning of War
by Page Fortna (Political Science) and Tanisha Fazal (Political Science)
The ways in which wars begin and end have changed markedly over time. Formal declarations of war have become rare, as have formal treaties to end hostilities. Wars are increasingly likely to end in a draw rather than a decisive victory, and are increasingly unlikely to settle the political issues over which they are fought. As the norms and practices of war initiation, fighting, and termination change, the very meaning of war may be shifting. This project will collect data for two related research endeavors. One will document and explain the informalization of war over time. The second focuses on changes in war termination, explaining and exploring the implications of these shifts.
See Also
- Research grant: The Political Decisiveness of War
- Featured publication: Peace Time: Cease-Fire Agreements and the Durability of Peace
