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Fri Oct 23 2026 at 05:30 pm to 07:30 pm UTC+01:00

The Causes of Great-Power War

  • The Long Room, Gonville and Caius, University of Cambridge · Cambridge
  • From GBP 0.00
Centre for Geopolitics Publisher / Host Centre for Geopolitics
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The Causes of Great-Power War
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What are the causes of the Great-Power War?
About this Event

Great-power decisions for war are driven largely by balance-of-power considerations and prevailing military circumstances. Specifically, declining great powers in dire military situations instigate “preventive” wars, and rising great powers in excellent military situations instigate “productive” wars, against other great powers. Similar calculations lead great powers to instigate wars against minor powers. The theory provides a compelling explanation of the origins of most great-power wars in the modern period, including the Franco-Prussian War (1870), the Spanish-American War (1898), World War I (1914), and the Soviet-Hungarian War (1956).

We invite you to attend a talk presented by Sebastian Rosato a Professor of Political Science at the University of Notre Dame. Followed by a drinks reception.

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Event venue & nearby stays

The Long Room, Gonville and Caius, University of Cambridge, Trinity Street, Cambridge, United Kingdom

Tickets GBP 0.00
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