Introduces the author's own constructivist theory of political order and international relations based on theories of motives and identity formation drawn from the ancient Greeks. His theory stresses the human need for self-esteem, and shows how it influences political behavior at every level of social aggregation. Lebow develops ideal-type worlds associated with four motives: appetite, spirit, reason, and fear, and demonstrates how each generates a different logic concerning cooperation, conflict, and risk-taking. Expanding and documenting the utility of his theory in a series of historical case studies, ranging from classical Greece to the war in Iraq, he presents a novel explanation for the rise of the state and the causes of war, and offers a reformulation of prospect theory.--From publisher description.

Introduction -- Fear, interest and honor -- The spirit and its expression -- The ancient world -- Medieval Europe -- From Sun King to revolution -- Imperialism and World War I -- World War II -- Hitler to Bush and beyond -- General findings and conclusions.