Causes of War

Thomas Lindemann's book explores a central characteristic of contemporary warfare that military strategists and geopoliticians try to minimise because it does not fit with their premises: struggles for recognition may be more important than terrestrial conquest and losing the war, if winning recognition and respect is central in many combats. In a very detailed and subtle analysis, the author succeeds brilliantly in convincing his readers that any scholar interested in war studies needs to recognise the role of the struggle for recognition as well as understanding the meaning of symbolic power. -- Didier Bigo, King's College London

An excellent book on the neglected topic of recognition in international relations. This solid and historically rich analysis of international violence from an identity-based perspective synthesises work from political science, sociology, and philosophy in French, German, and English in a novel perspective. -- Pierre Allan, University of Geneva

Lindemann demonstrates persuasively that the drive for self-esteem is a principal cause of international conflict and war and is not infrequently pursued at the expense of security and material interests. Recognition, other forms of inclusion and positive valuation, can accordingly function as a powerful tool of conflict prevention and management. Theoretically and empirically rich, this book has something important to say to academics and policy makers. -- Richard Ned Lebow, London School of Economics and Political Science

Wilhelmian Germany yearned for recognition as a Great Power. The Soviet Union sought political recognition by the United States. China aspires to global recognition. Placed in the context of history, symbolic recognition takes on full meaning at the peace treaties following major war. This excellent book explains how the problems of recognition impact world politics, and why. -- Charles Doran, Johns Hopkins University

Thomas Lindemann is Professor of Political Science at Artois University (CERAPS Lille 2) and is visiting professor at Paris I-Sorbonne and Sciences Po Paris. He has recently published Penser la guerre. L'apport constructiviste (L'Harmattan 2008) and La guerre (Armand Colin 2010) and The International Politics of Recognition (edited with Erik Ringmar for Paradigm, 2011).