About the book: 2023 / How has the experience of the 20th century changed our perception of war? Will large-scale armed conflicts disappear over time? What are wars of the 21st century and are there effective ways to prevent them? John Mueller in his book turns to the history of war to substantiate a seemingly paradoxical conclusion: war as a political instrument is rapidly becoming obsolete. The author considers the First and Second World Wars as turning points in history, when the European community came to the realization that war was no longer an inevitable and necessary phenomenon of social life. This new attitude towards interstate conflicts - together with other factors, including economic ones - has pushed developed countries to avoid them. According to Müller, the complete disappearance of war and its transition to the category of obsolete institutions (like duels or slavery) is quite possible, but this requires serious international efforts and competent governments. John Mueller - political scientist, professor emeritus at Ohio University.