Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of key concepts covered in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book argues that the negotiation of agency is central not only to the experience of war but also to its representation in cultural expressions. In order to contribute to the understanding of the nature of wars, which includes their causes and the ways they are fought, it is essential to consider the way their representations address their potential to provide situations in which human actions are manifested. Of central importance is the question of in how far wars are presented as promoting agency or limiting agency. Integrating concepts from philosophy and sociology, the agency approach constitutes an innovation in literary theory and can find numerous applications to various levels of discourse. Actions, understood in philosophical terms, are events brought about by intentional physical processes, consciously guided by an agent, based on his or her beliefs and desires, and causing an anticipated change.