Monarchy and war: An inquiry into the effects of domestic politics on international relations

Through much of history war was common. Starting in the nineteenth century war between the major powers became rare. This change occurred because the increased importance of domestic politics made leaders significantly more reluctant to fight wars. I focus on the great powers and more specifically, on changes in the behavior of monarchs. Prior to the French Revolution most monarchs were quite secure and able to fight if they pleased. After the French Revolution most monarchs were insecure and sought to avoid war because the risks were too high. Those who did fight did so because they were highly insecure and saw the risks of war as preferable to the risks of peace. Understanding the importance of these changes helps us to better understand the relationship between domestic politics and international relations.