The very existence of diversionary wars is hotly contested in the press and among political scientists. Yet no book has so far tackled the key questions of whet

Provides comprehensive, up-to-date coverage of the key themes and principles of conflict economics.

"Overy has written a masterpiece of analytical history, posing and answering one of the great questions of the century."--Sunday Times (London)

Douglas M. Gibler argues that threats to homeland territories force domestic political centralization within the state. Using an innovative theory of state deve