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Kenneth Waltz

Kenneth Waltz Quotes

Political Scientist

Kenneth Waltz was a prominent political scientist known for his contributions to the field of international relations theory. His research focused on realism, particularly structural realism, which has had a profound impact on the analysis of international politics.

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All States War Men Interest Law May Reason Achieve Anarchy Behavior Capitalism Causes Conflict Ends Found Games Ifs Important Internals International

Famous Kenneth Waltz Quotes

“According to the first image of international relations, the locus of the important causes of war is found in the nature and behavior of man. Wars result from selfishness, from misdirected aggressive impulses, from stupidity.”

Men Firsts Important War Found Causes Results Behavior Relation International Stupidity Selfishness Impulse Aggressive International Relations Causes Of War

Book:Man, the State, and War: A Theoretical Analysis

Source: Man, the State, and War: A Theoretical Analysis

“War most often promotes the internal unity of each state involved. The state plagued by internal strife may then, instead of waiting for the accidental attack, seek the war that will bring internal peace.”

May War States Waiting Involved Unity Internals Strife Internal Peace

Book:Man, the State, and War: A Theoretical Analysis

Source: Man, the State, and War: A Theoretical Analysis

“The transitory interests of royal houses may be advanced in war; the real interests of all people are furthered by the peace.”

People May War Real House Interest Royal Transitory

Author:Kenneth Waltz

“With many sovereign states, with no system of law enforceable among them, with each state judging its grievances and ambitions according to the dictates of its own reason or desire - conflict, sometimes leading to war, is bound to occur.”

War Sometimes States Reason Law Desire Judging Conflict Ambition Bounds Sovereign Grievance

Book:Man, the State, and War: A Theoretical Analysis

Source: Man, the State, and War: A Theoretical Analysis

“Then what explains war among states? Rousseau's answer is really that war occurs because there is nothing to prevent it.”

War States Answers

Book:Man, the State, and War: A Theoretical Analysis

Source: Man, the State, and War: A Theoretical Analysis

“War may achieve a redistribution of resources, but labor, not war, creates wealth.”

May War Wealth Achieve Resources Labor

Book:Man, the State, and War: A Theoretical Analysis

Source: Man, the State, and War: A Theoretical Analysis

“Asking who won a given war, someone has said, is like asking who won the San Francisco earthquake. That in war there is no victory but only varying degrees of defeat is a proposition that has gained increasing acceptance in the twentieth century.”

Said War Given Century Acceptance Victory Degrees Asking Defeat Propositions San Francisco Twentieth Century Earthquakes

Book:Man, the State, and War: A Theoretical Analysis

Source: Man, the State, and War: A Theoretical Analysis

About the Author

Born: June 8, 1924
Died: May 12, 2013
Known for: Political Scientist
Quotes: 24

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States War Men Interest Law May Reason Achieve Anarchy Behavior Capitalism Causes Conflict Ends Found Games Ifs Important Internals International

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Books & Sources

Man, the State, and War: A Theoretical AnalysisRelated source material

Theory of International PoliticsRelated source material

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