R. B. Fraser

Originally published in 1938, this book consists of a group of papers considering widely different subjects, but all bearing upon one social problem – the causation and prevention of war. The authors all occupy the same general political position, they are democratic socialists and active members of the Labour Party. The book falls into three rough divisions, although all the papers are self-contained. The first part of the book is psychological and attempts to summarise and analyse the non-historical evidence (ecological, psychological, and anthropological) about the causes of fighting. The second part is historical. It surveys the different causes of international war in the nineteenth century and then discusses the relation between nationalism and capitalism during the same period. The third part is political and first considers the relation of the use of force to the preservation of peace. Then analyses the choices of foreign policy for a pacific power confronted by the threat of aggressive military dictatorship. It concludes with a review and assessment of the various available policies for the prevention of war in general and under the specific contemporary conditions of the time.

Originally published in 1938, this book consists of a group of papers considering widely different subjects, but all bearing upon one social problem – the causation and prevention of war. The authors all occupy the same general political position, they are democratic socialists and active members of the Labour Party. The book falls into three rough divisions, although all the papers are self-contained. The first part of the book is psychological and attempts to summarise and analyse the non-historical evidence (ecological, psychological, and anthropological) about the causes of fighting. The second part is historical. It surveys the different causes of international war in the nineteenth century and then discusses the relation between nationalism and capitalism during the same period. The third part is political and first considers the relation of the use of force to the preservation of peace. Then analyses the choices of foreign policy for a pacific power confronted by the threat of aggressive military dictatorship. It concludes with a review and assessment of the various available policies for the prevention of war in general and under the specific contemporary conditions of the time.

"It was commonly accepted that judging a book by it's cover was just about the rudest and un-wisest thing you could do. But that's not going to stop you, is it? And that's something I've always respected about you. If the ideas of the trials and tribulations of a pair of wizards travelling through time and space do nothing for you, then you've most likely already put this book down. To those who remain, may I just take a moment to introduce Kiko and Kara. Kiko was a bookish, kind (but slightly bizarre) human girl with a razor-sharp intellect and Kara was the kind of Half-Elf to punch me in the face if she heard me say anything bad about her, so I won't be doing that. Both girls lived a life of magic and mystery on the thirteenth paralleled Earth, which was part of the Thirteenth parallel Universe; which is where this book is set."

"It was commonly accepted that judging a book by it's cover was just about the rudest and un-wisest thing you could do. But that's not going to stop you, is it? And that's something I've always respected about you. If the ideas of the trials and tribulations of a pair of wizards travelling through time and space do nothing for you, then you've most likely already put this book down. To those who remain, may I just take a moment to introduce Kiko and Kara. Kiko was a bookish, kind (but slightly bizarre) human girl with a razor-sharp intellect and Kara was the kind of Half-Elf to punch me in the face if she heard me say anything bad about her, so I won't be doing that. Both girls lived a life of magic and mystery on the thirteenth paralleled Earth, which was part of the Thirteenth parallel Universe; which is where this book is set."