Democratic States Do Not Wage War Against Each Other. Is It True?
Democratic States Do Not Wage War Against Each Other. Is It True?

Summary/Abstract: This article critically re-examines the Democratic Peace Theory (DPT), a long-standing tenet of liberal thought in international relations, which posits that democratic states are less likely to wage war against one another. While DPT has informed both scholarly discourse and policy-making, this study challenges its theoretical assumptions, empirical foundations, and normative implications through a multi-theoretical and methodologically reflective lens. The paper systematically proceeds in three analytical stages: 1.) a conceptual critique of DPT’s definitional coherence and causal claims, 2.) an empirical assessment using historically documented cases of inter-democratic conflict and aggressive interventions by democracies, and 3.) a theoretical juxtaposition of liberal, realist, and constructivist interpretations of peace and conflict. Particular attention is paid to methodological limitations such as selection bias, endogeneity, and Eurocentric framing. By dissecting both mainstream support and prominent critiques, the article highlights how alternative variables may offer more robust explanations for observed patterns of peace. In its conclusion, the study argues that the deterministic logic of DPT is inadequate for explaining the complex dynamics of contemporary international relations and may even reinforce problematic normative hierarchies that justify interventionism.

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