Chapter 3 Empirics

Readings.

3.1 How do they define war?

Stories about Singer and COW projects. They compiled a list of wars and then figured they need to define what wars are.

Mearsheimer only cares about big wars, like WWI and WWII.

3.2 Theory

What do they differ and overlap? This leads to the discussion of a good theory.

How do you, in your own words, describe Mearsheimer’s theory of war?

3.3 Bargaining

The fundamental thing: what is bargaining?

Fearon 95 misinterpretation: 1. F predict no war; 2. Things that reduce the bargaining range (costs of war) make war more likely.