Alan Cromartie is Professor of the History of Political Thought at the University of Reading, and author of The constitutionalist revolution (2006) and editor of Thomas Hobbes, A dialogue between a philosopher and a student, of the common laws of England (2005).

This book addresses the relationship between the 'liberal' values of Anglo-Saxon cultures and the way that they conduct themselves when they are fighting - or preparing to fight - wars.

Introduction, Alan Cromartie 1. 'Why we Bomb you': Liberal War-making and Moral Relativism in the RAF Bomber Offensive, 1940-45, Richard Overy 2. The Liberal and Non-liberal Justification of Violence against Civilians, Jonathan Leader Maynard 3. Can there be a Liberal Military Strategy?, Lawrence Freedman 4. Enhancing American Strategic Competency, Frank G. Hoffman 5. War, Sovereignty and Civilization from Bodin to Rawls, Alan Cromartie 6. The Iraq Inquiries: Publicity, Secrecy and Liberal War, Owen Thomas 7. Maps of the Mind: Distance and Modern War, Patrick Porter 8. Not peace, Not War: America since 1945, Allan Silver