Summary of Christopher Blattman's Why We Fight

Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book.

Sample Book Insights:

#1 I first learned about the Billiards War from an inmate in Bellavista prison. It was described to me by Carlos, a member of a neighborhood gang who had started selling drugs at the age of fourteen.

#2 In Medellín, Colombia, gangs control most of the neighborhoods, and the prisons are their Strongholds. The prison complex of Bellavista is at the center of this citywide contest, because that’s where most of the coordinadores live.

#3 The Billiards War never happened in Medellín. El Mesa grew in power, but they never fought the other gangs. They simply negotiated with them and took some of their territory. This has been the case in Medellín for decades, as most opponents have chosen not to fight.

#4 The calculus of compromise explains why most rivals avoid war. It is a simple strategic logic that explains why most sides prefer to find a peaceful split rather than going to war.