President Bush has laid out a new plan for Iraq and is sending an additional 20,000 troops to the region. In addition, the threat of war looms over Israel and Iran, and Ethiopian and Somali forces are battling Islamic fighters. In the latest issue of the American Sociological Review,* sociologist Andreas Wimmer answers the question "Why do countries go to war?" His article, “Explaining Wars in the Modern World,” co-authored with Brian Min, describes what kind of country is more likely to choose to fight and takes a look at the reasons behind the violence.

Andreas Wimmer, an expert on the history of war, is available for interviews and comment. For more information, contact Sujata Sinha at 202-247-9871 or via email at ssinha@asanet.org