New Books Network Our Age of War: A Discussion with Author Robert Pape
Mar 18, 2026
Robert Pape, a University of Chicago political scientist who studies war and coercion, explains why we may be living in an Age of War. He describes the 'escalation trap' and how violence is becoming normalized globally and domestically. He connects philosophical shifts, demographic and inequality pressures, and US politics to rising instability. He warns about long wars, regime-change fallout, and risks from dispersing Iran’s enriched material.
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Liberal International Order Has Been Unraveling For Two Decades
- The post‑WWII liberal international order was a Lockean system designed to reduce war by creating guardrails between states.
- Pape argues that system has been unraveling over ~20 years, increasing the likelihood of conflict.
Hobbes Versus Locke Explains Shifts Toward Conflict
- Pape frames the debate as Hobbesian versus Lockean: insecurity drives power‑seeking (Hobbes) while mutual restraint creates mostly peaceful interactions (Locke).
- He sees current trends as shifting back toward Hobbesian dynamics internationally.
US Social Changes Are Fueling Global Instability
- Two US domestic social changes drive global instability: transition from white majority to minority and extreme wealth concentration to the top 0.1%.
- Together these make politics existential, normalizing radicalism and political violence in multiple Western countries.
