A Study of War

work by Wright

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July 14, 2026

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A Study of War is a seminal two-volume work by American political scientist Quincy Wright, published in 1942. Wright, an authority on international law, examined war from historical, legal, and cultural perspectives. He concluded that the best way to eliminate war is through a world organization with sufficient power to fulfill its responsibilities.1

Theories of war have evolved significantly, particularly after World War I and the advent of weapons of mass destruction. While Carl von Clausewitz defined war as a rational instrument of foreign policy, modern theories increasingly view war as a calamity and social disaster, emphasizing the need for peace research and prevention. Wright's work contributed to this ongoing discourse on understanding and preventing armed conflict.21

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Quincy Wright
In 1942 Wright published A Study of War in two volumes, in which he examined the institution of war, historically, legally, and culturally, and concluded that war could best be eliminated through a world organization that had power adequate to its responsibilities. Wright’s Study of International Relations (1955) presented…
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In 1942 Wright published A Study of War in two volumes, in which he examined the institution of war, historically, legally, and culturally, and concluded that war could best be eliminated through a world organization that had power adequate to its responsibilities. Wright’s Study of International Relations (1955) presented…
Read More