The very existence of diversionary wars is hotly contested in the press and among political scientists. Yet no book has so far tackled the key questions of whet

"Overy has written a masterpiece of analytical history, posing and answering one of the great questions of the century."--Sunday Times (London)

Why do some autocratic leaders pursue aggressive or expansionist foreign policies, while others are much more cautious in their use of military force? The first

Challenges the democratic peace and diversionary war theories by emphasizing the importance of social trust, its origin as a by-product of effective governance