disposition) toward bellicosity is the key factor, according to Black, and, crucially, it does not necessarily need to be reciprocated. If one side is determined to go to war, war usually follows, even if the other side is predisposed to appease to avoid conflict. The disposition of the national leadership, the exigencies of domestic circumstances, and the psychological motivations of the leader(s) are the key elements, Black concludes. He thus analyses the default positions of various ideologies toward conflict and assesses the dynamic functioning of international relations systems as well as the successes and failures of international diplomacy. As is typical of Jeremy Black’s books, War and its Causes is an ambitious, wide-ranging, and sweeping study. He integrates contemporary diplomatic history, political science and international relations, as well as perspectives from social and cultural history. The result is, perhaps, the first truly global examination of the causes of war. Black provides interesting and thoughtful insights about war that make essential reading for those currently engaged in it, preparing for it, or considering it, be they military professionals, politicians, or diplomats. The book is also of great value to anyone concerned about world peace and the maintenance of domestic political harmony. As is often the case with Jeremy Black, it is likely that some will dissent from Black’s analyses and conclusions, but nonetheless this is a thought provoking, study, ably supported with appropriate historical examples from across the globe. Scholars of the social scientists as well as the humanities ought to find it useful as well. It is a well written and documented must read. RUSSELL A. HART Hawai‘i Pacific University

中文翻译：

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流行病：从雅典瘟疫到艾滋病的仇恨和同情，小塞缪尔·科恩着。

根据布莱克的说法，对好战的倾向）是关键因素，而且至关重要的是，它不一定需要回报。如果一方决心开战，战争通常会随之而来，即使另一方倾向于安抚以避免冲突。布莱克总结说，国家领导人的性格、国内环境的紧急情况以及领导人的心理动机是关键因素。因此，他分析了各种意识形态对冲突的默认立场，并评估了国际关系体系的动态运作以及国际外交的成败。正如杰里米·布莱克 (Jeremy Black) 的典型著作一样，《战争及其起因》是一项雄心勃勃、范围广泛且全面的研究。他融合了当代外交史、政治学和国际关系，以及社会和文化历史的观点。结果，也许是对战争起因的第一次真正的全球审视。布莱克提供了有关战争的有趣而深思熟虑的见解，对于目前参与战争、准备战争或考虑战争的人来说，无论是军事专业人士、政治家还是外交官，都是必不可少的读物。这本书对任何关心世界和平和维护国内政治和谐的人也很有价值。正如杰里米·布莱克 (Jeremy Black) 经常遇到的情况一样，有些人可能会反对布莱克的分析和结论，但尽管如此，这是一项发人深省的研究，并得到了来自全球的适当历史案例的有力支持。社会科学家和人文学科的学者也应该发现它很有用。这是一本写得很好，有据可查的必读。RUSSELL A. HART 夏威夷太平洋大学