Militarism: The History of an International Debate 1861–1979

by Volker R. Berghahn

First published in 1981, this book introduces and contextualises the concept of militarism, from its emergence in the nineteenth century through to the late seventies. The focus is primarily on the position of militarism as part of a historicised debate concerning international relations and the ethics of statehood. Attention is also given to the use of the term as a propaganda tool during various conflicts. Berghahn recognises the ideologically constructed nature of militarism together with the ambiguity surrounding the term but, rather than seeing this as a problem to be overcome, embraces it as a means of gaining a clearer insight into the nature of socio-political forces. This concise and lucid work will be invaluable to anyone with an interest in history, politics or social science.

140 pages, Paperback

First published June 7, 1984

About the author

Volker Rolf Berghahn is Seth Low Emeritus Professor of History at Columbia University.