Rationalist explantion doesn’t address the fact that war is costly so rational states should have incentives to negotiate settlements than war. Rationalist – what prevents leaders from reaching bargain. Rational explanation – war is an attractive option and sometimes its benefits outweigh the costs. War can be a rational alternative for leaders acting on behalf of state’s interest. Anarchy, (commitment problems, impossible to stop another state from reneging on the terms of agreement). issue divisibility (some issue can’t be divided)>

Rational leaders maybe unable to reach a settlement due to the privation information being relative capabilities or incentive to misrepresent such information. Rational know thing about their military capabilities that other states don’t know and are willing to go to a war. In bargaining situation, incentive to misrepresent such information to gain a better deal.

Japan and Russia – japan has better knowledge of their military capability. Russia thought Japan would not dare to attack. Japan revealing the information to Russia will undermine their actual capabilities to win a war. Russia might not believe in what Japans said. Incentive to withhold or misrepresent information. Incentive to misrepresent private information supported miscalculation of willingness to fight.

Pluralist – institutions can make good faith possible. Recognition of diversity and peaceful coexistence of different interests, convictions and lifestyles.

Weak state – insurgency. Ethnic antagonism, grievances. Police and counterinsurgency weakness. Rough terrain (rebels have better knowledge)gdp per capita, ethnic fractionalization. State weakness marked by poverty, a large population and instability. A history of decolonization caused it. Need for a well-finance, administratively competent government.

Permissive – underlying factors that makes a conflict prone to violence. Proximate – catalytics factors that directly trigger.

Individuals are economically deprived, marginalized from political decision making and alienated from mainstream political processes.