Is War Worth It?

After practically every American war, the question of whether the sacrifice in American blood was worth the benefits looms large. There is a question, however, that needs to be asked before American soldiers are sent into harm’s way: Is war worth it? Too often, the decision to use military force is based on untested assumptions, dubious historical lessons, and a failure to consider second-order effects. Countries that go to war frequently focus on misunderstood or overemphasized factors, such as credibility, overstated security fears, and domestic political backlash. The true, long-term costs of war—or its ultimate “worth” to the country—are rarely assessed and remain frustratingly opaque.

How can a nation go to war without fully grasping the potential long-term costs and benefits?

Answering this question is the motivation for the “Is War Worth it?” project. We believe that policymakers need better data and analysis on what constitutes success and failure in war. Is War Worth It? is a case study-focused research project that will assess the actual costs and benefits to countries that initiate conflicts. We will examine past conflicts by using a clearly defined set of criteria that includes economic, political, reputational, diplomatic, and humanitarian costs and benefits.