Regularities of Wars in the Context of Social Evolution
Research Article
How to Cite
Rozov N.S. (2025) Regularities of Wars in the Context of Social Evolution. Zhurnal sotsiologii i sotsialnoy antropologii (The Journal of Sociology and Social Anthropology), 28(1): 7–26 (in Russian). DOI: https://doi.org/10.31119/jssa.2025.28.1.1 EDN: AHNQKO
Abstract
The article discusses and explains multiple empirical generalizations related to the origins and dynamics of wars of different types made by prominent political scientists and historical sociologists. The generalizations concern the peculiarities of the pre-war periods, which were characterized by escalating conflict rhetoric and mutual provocations. The territorial basis of many military conflicts is examined. Traditional feuds with a series of crises are also fraught with wars. If the parties are roughly equal, wars become protracted and involve adjacent states. Large powerful states (great powers and superpowers) are more likely to start wars. Also considered are the more controversial positions on great power inequality as a factor preventing war, as well as the theory of "democratic peace". The weakness of the normative (moralistic) argument that rulers and elites are more peaceful in democracies is shown. Also unconvincing is the economic explanation, according to which democracies that trade with each other are therefore not inclined to go to war. The strongest is the institutional factor related to the plurality of power actors who can influence decisions. This explanation utilizes the concept of collegial power sharing. A distinction is made between leadership and hegemony in international relations. macrosociology of world history. The following approaches have been used in the context of social evolution and macrosociology of world history: the model of changing phases of social development, the challenge-response scheme, the extended functional model, the alternation of epochs of stability and periods of turbulence, the intersecting epochs of empire expansion and the formation of nation-states. Such epochs are characterized by special — transformational — wars. Fragile, weak, crumbling states can fall into civil wars that involve neighbors and great powers.
Keywords:
societies' responses to challenges, social evolution, risks and threats, causes of war, escalation of conflict, hostility between states, great powers, collegial power-sharing, challenge-response, nation-states
References
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Collins R. (2015) Macrohistory. Essays in Sociology of the Long Run. Moscow: URSS (in Russian).
Mann M. (2018) The Sources of Social Power. Vol. 1. Moscow: Delo (in Russian).
Okuneva E.S. (2015) Critique of the theory of "democratic peace": from realism to constructivism. Sravnitelnaya politika [Comparative Politics], 21(4): 6–9 (in Russian).
Rozov N.S. (2011) Track and Pass: The Macrosociological Foundations of Russia's strategies in the 21st century. Moscow: ROSSPEN (in Russian).
Rozov N.S. (2019) Philosophy and Theory of History. Book 1. Prolegomena. Moscow: URSS (in Russian).
Stinchcombe A. (2003) Geopolitical concepts and military vulnerability. In: War and Geopolitics. The Almanac "The World Time", 3: 288–300 (in Russian).
Toynbee A. J. (2009) The Study of History: The Emergence, Growth and Decay of Civilizations. Moscow: ACT (in Russian).
Cashman G. (2014) What Causes War? An Introduction to Theories of International Conflict. Rowman & Littlefield.
Dennen Van der J. (1995) The Origin of War. Groningen, Netherlands: Origin Press.
Fry D. (ed.) (2013) War, Peace, and Human Nature: The Convergence of Evolutionary and Cultural Views. Oxford University Press.
Hegre H., Bernhard M., Teorell J. (2020) Civil society and the democratic peace. Journal of Conflict Resolution, 64(1): 32–62.
Hironaka A. (2005) Neverending Wars. Harvard University Press.
Lebow R. N. (2010) Why Nations Fight. Cambridge University Press.
Malešević S. (2017) The Rise of Organised Brutality: A Historical Sociology of Violence. Cambridge University Press.
Mann M. (2023) On Wars. Yale University Press.
Sponsel L. (2015) Peace and Nonviolence, Anthropological Aspects. Wright J. (ed.) International Encyclopedia of the Social and Behavioral Sciences. Amsterdam: Elsevier Press: 624–630.
Stinchcombe A. (1987) Constructing Social Theories. University of Chicago Press.
Wimmer A. (2013) The Waves of War: Nationalism, State Formation and Ethnic Exclusion in the Modern World. Cambridge University Press.
Kant I. (1994) Perpetual Peace: A Philosophical Sketch. In: Kant I. Works in German and Russian. Moscow; Marburg: Kami. Vol. 1: 353‒477 (in Russian).
Collins R. (2015) Macrohistory. Essays in Sociology of the Long Run. Moscow: URSS (in Russian).
Mann M. (2018) The Sources of Social Power. Vol. 1. Moscow: Delo (in Russian).
Okuneva E.S. (2015) Critique of the theory of "democratic peace": from realism to constructivism. Sravnitelnaya politika [Comparative Politics], 21(4): 6–9 (in Russian).
Rozov N.S. (2011) Track and Pass: The Macrosociological Foundations of Russia's strategies in the 21st century. Moscow: ROSSPEN (in Russian).
Rozov N.S. (2019) Philosophy and Theory of History. Book 1. Prolegomena. Moscow: URSS (in Russian).
Stinchcombe A. (2003) Geopolitical concepts and military vulnerability. In: War and Geopolitics. The Almanac "The World Time", 3: 288–300 (in Russian).
Toynbee A. J. (2009) The Study of History: The Emergence, Growth and Decay of Civilizations. Moscow: ACT (in Russian).
Cashman G. (2014) What Causes War? An Introduction to Theories of International Conflict. Rowman & Littlefield.
Dennen Van der J. (1995) The Origin of War. Groningen, Netherlands: Origin Press.
Fry D. (ed.) (2013) War, Peace, and Human Nature: The Convergence of Evolutionary and Cultural Views. Oxford University Press.
Hegre H., Bernhard M., Teorell J. (2020) Civil society and the democratic peace. Journal of Conflict Resolution, 64(1): 32–62.
Hironaka A. (2005) Neverending Wars. Harvard University Press.
Lebow R. N. (2010) Why Nations Fight. Cambridge University Press.
Malešević S. (2017) The Rise of Organised Brutality: A Historical Sociology of Violence. Cambridge University Press.
Mann M. (2023) On Wars. Yale University Press.
Sponsel L. (2015) Peace and Nonviolence, Anthropological Aspects. Wright J. (ed.) International Encyclopedia of the Social and Behavioral Sciences. Amsterdam: Elsevier Press: 624–630.
Stinchcombe A. (1987) Constructing Social Theories. University of Chicago Press.
Wimmer A. (2013) The Waves of War: Nationalism, State Formation and Ethnic Exclusion in the Modern World. Cambridge University Press.
Article
Received: 27.04.2024
Accepted: 25.03.2025
Citation Formats
Other cite formats:
ACM
[1]
Rozov, N.S. 2025. Regularities of Wars in the Context of Social Evolution. Zhurnal sotsiologii i sotsialnoy antropologii (The Journal of Sociology and Social Anthropology). 28, 1 (Mar. 2025), 7–26. DOI:https://doi.org/10.31119/jssa.2025.28.1.1.
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