Preemptive War §

• Preemption: War in Response to First-Strike Advantages
  • What is First-Strike Advantage?
    • It exists when the first state to launch an attack will disarm the other state’s military (incapable of responding)
  • Why is it a problem?
    • The state that has the advantage will be tempted to use it
    • The state that is vulnerable might strike first rather than be disarmed
  • Preemptive War
    • When the war starter will benefit more than bargaining.
    • Negotiation becomes a ploy to delay the other side.
• War from first strike advantage
  • First state to attack has more advantage
  • Why a problem?
• “Use it or lose it” States temtation to use it
  • Preemtive war: benefit more than bargaining

Examples of Preemptive Wars

• Peloponnesian War between Athens and Sparta in the 5th century BCE
• World War I
• Japanese attack on the United States in 1941
• America’s invasion of Iraq in 2003
• 1967 Arab–Israeli War (Six Day War)