Waltz's "Man, the State, and War"

Kenneth Waltz’s "Man, the State, and War" analyzes the causes of war through three levels of explanation: individual (man), state (government and policies), and international system (world politics). He argues that human nature, state structures, and the anarchic international environment all contribute to conflict. The international system’s lack of a central authority creates situations where countries often see war as inevitable or unavoidable. Waltz emphasizes that understanding these layers helps explain why wars happen and how different levels influence each other, providing a comprehensive framework for analyzing global conflict.