Without effective means of a peaceful settlement of disputes, war has provided a mechanism through which states can implement a rule of law in their favour or redress unjust practices. In the absence of an international police force, states have reserved a monopoly on the use of force in order to preserve and maintain their interests. This double perspective (the horrors of war and its social role in global politics) haunts us today in a world where the possibility of nuclear war threatens to spell the end of civilisation. The United States and its allies may possible attack Iraq any minute from now, The prospect of peace in the Middle East is in its lowest ebb ever, India and Pakistan are threatening each other. We live then with the ever-present reality of war and the fear of total annih

Some topics in this essay:
Robert Gilpin, War Contrasting, International Relations, Soviet Union, , Europe American, India Pakistan, Europe China, Ahmad Karzai, Pax Americana, global politics, nuclear weapons, hegemonic war, economic ideological, world war, former soviet, major war, world war ii, peace hegemonic, economic power, war global, united former soviet, former soviet union, political economic ideological, economic military power,