Introduction: A New Synthesis

Abstract

As the violent twentieth century recedes into history and the twenty-first century begins its second decade, war - and its costs and consequences - remain a central feature of Homo sapiens' relationship to the environment. Worldwide, military expenditures surged to an all-time high in 2009 [19], despite a deep global recession and a drop in the number of active conflicts [5]. Though analysts had predicted substantial peace dividends following the end of the Cold War, this new peak capped a long and steady trend. In the first decade of the twenty-first century, global military spending rose nearly 50% [19]. When researchers ask what the world is arming for, one dominant thread makes the subject of this book both timely and urgent. © Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2011.