tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3829599.post110461597265932223..comments2024-01-28T00:20:40.933-08:00Comments on Agoraphilia: On Dueling, Trial by Ordeal, and WarUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3829599.post-1104781736687034212005-01-03T11:48:00.000-08:002005-01-03T11:48:00.000-08:00> duels ... may have served to facilitate conflict...> duels ... may have served to facilitate conflict<br />> resolution.<br /><br />Very likely.<br /><br />In his book on "The Causes of War" (1973,<br />Macmillan, NY, LCC Card Number 73-2016), Geoffrey<br />Blainey argues that wars occur when the two sides<br />disagree over their relative power. When they<br />agree over their relative power, they negotiate.<br />(Power comes in many forms; otherwise, the<br />Vietnamese communists would not have defeated the<br />US).<br /><br />The more costly the `trial' the more likely the<br />sides will investigate their relative power.<br />Espionage and anthropology prevent war.<br /><br />Also, as Blainey said (p 134),<br /><br />> In a crisis, the priorities for most nations<br />> might have run in this order:<br /><br />> 1. To achieve its aims by peaceful means.<br />> 2. To achieve part of its aims by peaceful<br />> means.<br />> 3. To achieve its aims by a forceful action<br />> that is not itself war but creates some risk<br />> of war.<br />> 4. To achieve its aims by a short and<br />> small-scale war.<br />> 5. To achieve its aims by a long, large-scale<br />> war.<br />> 6. To sacrifice some of its aims by peaceful<br />> means.<br />> 7. To achieve nothing by war.<br />> 8. To sacrifice most of its aims by peaceful<br />> means.<br />> 9. To sacrifice its aims by war.<br /><br />-- <br /> Robert J. Chassell bob@rattlesnake.com<br /> http://www.rattlesnake.comAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com