War and Change in World PoliticsWar and Change in World Politics introduces the reader to an important new theory of international political change. Arguing that the fundamental nature of international relations has not changed over the millennia, Professor Gilpin uses history, sociology, and economic theory to identify the forces causing change in the world order. The discussion focuses on the differential growth of power in the international system and the result of this unevenness. A shift in the balance of power - economic or military - weakens the foundations of the existing system, because those gaining power see the increasing benefits and the decreasing cost of changing the system. The result, maintains Gilpin, is that actors seek to alter the system through territorial, political, or economic expansion until the marginal costs of continuing change are greater than the marginal benefits. When states develop the power to change the system according to their interests they will strive to do so- either by increasing economic efficiency and maximizing mutual gain, or by redistributing wealth and power in their own favour. |
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Page ix
... attempt to understand international political change . Each type of social theory makes its own contribution . However , in this study we shall regard both as suggestive , rather than as methodologies to be applied rigorously . Thus ...
... attempt to understand international political change . Each type of social theory makes its own contribution . However , in this study we shall regard both as suggestive , rather than as methodologies to be applied rigorously . Thus ...
Page x
... attempt to explain human behavior . The strength of the sociological approach is its focus on the structural and institutional determinants of individual behavior . Individuals make choices and act in a world of rules and norms not ...
... attempt to explain human behavior . The strength of the sociological approach is its focus on the structural and institutional determinants of individual behavior . Individuals make choices and act in a world of rules and norms not ...
Page xi
... attempts to change the nature of the institution and its objectives in order to reflect significant changes in ... attempt to change the political system in response to developments that increase its relative power or decrease the ...
... attempts to change the nature of the institution and its objectives in order to reflect significant changes in ... attempt to change the political system in response to developments that increase its relative power or decrease the ...
Page xii
... attempt to achieve their interests and goals by the most efficient means possible . How- ever , the specific interests or objectives that individuals pursue and the appropriateness of the means they employ are depen- dent on prevailing ...
... attempt to achieve their interests and goals by the most efficient means possible . How- ever , the specific interests or objectives that individuals pursue and the appropriateness of the means they employ are depen- dent on prevailing ...
Page xiii
... attempt to develop a theory or conception of international political change . At the same time , we are mindful of the severe limitations of both types of social theories and of the fact that even though each approach partially ...
... attempt to develop a theory or conception of international political change . At the same time , we are mindful of the severe limitations of both types of social theories and of the fact that even though each approach partially ...
Contents
The Nature of International Political Change | 9 |
Stability and Change | 50 |
Growth and Expansion | 106 |
Equilibrium and Decline | 156 |
Hegemonic War and International Change | 186 |
Change and Continuity in World Politics | 211 |
Change and War in the Contemporary World | 231 |
245 | |
260 | |
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Common terms and phrases
argued become behavior benefits bipolar Britain British Byzantine Empire capital capitalist century change the international change the system city-state conflict consequence contemporary world costs create decline decrease diminishing returns disequilibrium distribution of power domestic dominant power E. H. Carr economic growth economic surplus efficiency empire equilibrium Europe European existing expansion factors forces foreign policy fundamental gains global governance groups hegemonic imperial important incentive increase indifference curve individuals industrial interactions interdependence interests international political change international relations international system Kenneth Waltz market economy Marxist military power modern world monetarization nation-state nomic nuclear weapons Pax Britannica political organization Polybius premodern prestige production property rights redistribution relative Revolution rise seek to change social society Soviet Union status quo structure systems change technological tend territorial theory Thucydides tion tional system trade types United University Press Waltz wars wealth and power world market economy world politics