Does Offense-Defense Theory Have a Future?

Does offense-defense theory have a future? Its proponents would vigorously answer "yes" and point to the theory's contributions to the field of international relations. In various forms, offense-defense theory has been used to explain many types of international phenomena, ranging from the causes of war and peace to the importance that states attach to relative gains. Proponents also suggest that the theory has much relevance to security policy.

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