The War Game (by Kenneth Waltz)

"The War Game" by Kenneth Waltz is a theoretical analysis of international conflict, emphasizing that state behavior is primarily driven by the anarchic nature of the international system—meaning no central authority exists to regulate nations. Waltz argues that countries act defensively to ensure their security, leading to a balance of power where no single state becomes dominant. This stability arises from the self-interested pursuit of security, not necessarily from ideological motives. The theory highlights that the structure of the international system influences how nations interact, often making conflict inevitable but manageable through strategic power balancing.