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Formerly a professor of government at Williamsburg, Virginia’s College of William and Mary, David Dessler holds a Ph.D. in international relations from The Johns Hopkins University. The author of several papers that focus on areas such as foreign policy and international relations, David Dessler wrote a widely cited paper titled "Beyond Correlations: Toward a Causal Theory of War.”
Published in the International Studies Quarterly in the 1990s, Mr. Dessler’s paper posited that while the scientific examination of war has traditionally relied on correlational studies, it is prone to subjective biases. He believes that war can be better understood through a causal approach that offers the benefit of reproducible evidence.
The use of causal reasoning provides researchers with a more effective way to integrate data about the root causes of war, according to the paper. The author states that the use of causal theory can lead to a greater understanding of the underlying causes that lead to interstate conflict, as opposed to the fragmented approach that now prevails.
