Not a day goes by without us receiving news of conflicts in our immediate or broader surroundings that can accurately be described as war. War can be understood as a conflict in which the involved parties risk their survival. This applies not only to conflicts between nations but also to other social units such as companies, organizations, tribes, gangs, and even individuals. Examples include duels or the sometimes deadly conflicts between spouses. This book analyzes the conditions that lead to wars from a systems theory perspective. The author incorporates both biological and psychoanalytic models as well as sociological insights. The result is that such conflicts are generally not fought over economic or instinctual interests, but rather over seemingly antiquated values such as honor, pride, and status. According to the author, wars should therefore be understood as a continuation of sports by other means and, not to be overlooked, as the ultimate form of entertainment—at least for the observers who are not directly involved.