This book unites original contributions to the debate on the Capitalist Peace and thus the idea that key attributes of free markets make the world more peaceful. Key proponents of this thesis as well as their most prominent critiques engage into a lively debate on the theoretical foundations of this claim and its empirical relevance vis-à-vis competing explanations such as the notion that democratic pairs of states are peaceful.

This book was originally published as a special issue of International Interactions.

1. The capitalist peace: Origins and prospects of a liberal idea Gerald Schneider and Nils Petter Gleditsch

2. International crises and the capitalist peace Erik Gartzke and J. Joseph Hewitt

3. Capitalism, commitment, and peace Patrick J. McDonald

4. Capitalism, peace, and the historical movement of ideas John Mueller

5a. Capitalism and Peace: It¿s Keynes, not Hayek Michael Mousseau, Omer F. Orsun, Jameson Lee Ungerer and Demet Yalcin Mousseau

5b. Does Capitalism Account for the Democratic Peace? The Evidence Still Says No Allan Dafoe and Bruce Russett

5c. Does the Market-Capitalist Peace Supersede the Democratic Peace? The Evidence Still Says Yes Michael Mousseau, Omer F. Orsun and Jameson Lee Ungerer

6. Commentaries:

• Coming to terms with the capitalist peace Michael Mousseau
• Capitalist influences and peace Richard Rosecrance
• Capitalism or democracy? Not so fast Bruce Russett
• The Capitalist Peace and the Rise of China: Establishing Global Harmony by Economic Interdependence Erich Weede

Gerald Schneider is Professor of Political Science at the University of Konstanz, Germany and Editor of European Union Politics. He has published around 140 articles on European Union decision making, the causes and consequences of political violence and various other topics. He is a former Vice President of the International Studies Associates and has advised governments, IGOs and research institutions across the world.

Nils Petter Gleditsch is Research professor at the Centre for the Study of Civil War at the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO), Professor of Political Science at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim, and Associate editor of Journal of Peace Research. He served as President of the International Studies Association in 2008-09. He has published numerous articles and books on armed conflict, environmental security, the peace dividend, and related issues.