This open access book examines the work of Lewis F Richardson (1981-1953), a physicist by training, was a pioneer in meteorology and peace research and remains a towering presence in both fields. This edited volume reviews his work and assesses its influence in the social sciences, notably his work on arms races and their consequences, mathematical models, the size distribution of wars, and geographical features of conflict. It contains brief bibliographies of his main publications and of articles and books written about Richardson and his work and discusses his continuing influence in peace research and international relations as well as his attitude to the ethical responsibilities of a scientist. It will be of interest to a wide range of scholars.This book includes 11 chapters written by Nils Petter Gleditsch (PRIO, Oslo), Dina A Zinnes (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign), Ron Smith (Birkbeck University of London), Paul F Diehl (University of Texas-Dallas), Kelly Kadera (University of Iowa), Mark Crescenzi (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill), Michael  D Ward  (Duke University), Kristian Skrede Gleditsch (University of Essex),  Nils B Weidmann (University of Konstanz), Jürgen Scheffran (University of Hamburg), Niall MacKay (University of York), Aaron Clauset (University of Colorado), Michael Spagat (University of London) and Stijn van Weezel (unaffiliated).Lewis F Richardson is unique in occupying an important position in two academic fields as different as meteorology and peace research, with academic prizes awarded to scholars in both disciplines.In peace research, he pioneered the use of mathematical models and the meticulous compilation of databases for empirical research and is regularly cited for these contributions.He set strict standards for his scientific work but also for the ethical aspects of his work. As a quaker and pacifist, he refused to work in preparations for war, paid a heavy prize in terms of his career, and (at least in the social sciences) was fully recognized as a pioneering scholar only posthumously with the publication of two major books. weiterlesen