This is an IHeart podcast.

On this episode of NUTS World, domestic causes of American wars, economic and political triggers,

offers a unique and critical take on the causes of major American wars throughout its history. Unlike most

histories that designate foreign threats as Casas Belai, this work examines their important

underlying economic triggers, reaching the striking conclusion that many were unnecessary for

national security, nor were they as heroic in upholding American values as commonly

concluded. Further, conventional histories often dwell on the positive outcomes of those wars

rather than on their much more important domestic ill effects, the erosion of the American

founder's constitution and of the civil liberties and constitutional checks and balances therein

while enabling the rise of an imperial presidency. In his new book, Ivan Eland addresses

those often buried domestic causes and effects, in particular how American election cycles

often affect U.S. country into wars and how economic motives incentivize war.

So I'm really pleased to welcome my guest, who has a fascinating thesis, Ivan Eland.

He is a senior fellow and director of the Center on Peace and Liberty at the Independent Institute.

Thank you. Ivan, welcome, and thank you for joining me on Nutsworld.

Thanks for having me on. It's really a great honor.

So, first of all, tell us a little bit about the Independent Institute and the work that

you're doing there.

Well, I run the Center for Peace and Liberty.

It's sort of a libertarian think tank, libertarian-esque-oriented, and we explore the roots of

big government.

And, of course, big government has been caused, not only in the United States, but in other countries, by warfare first and foremost. Other other causes, of course, but a lot of our programs, even if they're not defense-related, for instance, our health care system came during World War II.

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