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 x
... seek to maximize , or at least to satisfy , certain values or interests at the lowest possible cost to them- selves . In this context , rationality applies only to endeavor , not to outcome ; failure to achieve an objective because of ...
... seek to maximize , or at least to satisfy , certain values or interests at the lowest possible cost to them- selves . In this context , rationality applies only to endeavor , not to outcome ; failure to achieve an objective because of ...
Page xiii
... Pettman , Mark A. Sinz , David Spiro , and Kenneth N. Waltz . A special debt is owed to my colleague William Branson for his suggestion of the appropriateness of economic theory in seeking to explain politi- cal PREFACE xiii.
... Pettman , Mark A. Sinz , David Spiro , and Kenneth N. Waltz . A special debt is owed to my colleague William Branson for his suggestion of the appropriateness of economic theory in seeking to explain politi- cal PREFACE xiii.
Page xiv
Robert Gilpin. appropriateness of economic theory in seeking to explain politi- cal change and for his tutoring in economics over the years . Participants in my graduate seminar on international relations and colloquia at Boston College ...
Robert Gilpin. appropriateness of economic theory in seeking to explain politi- cal change and for his tutoring in economics over the years . Participants in my graduate seminar on international relations and colloquia at Boston College ...
Page 2
... seek to develop an understanding of interna- tional political change more systematic than the understanding that currently exists . We do not pretend to develop a general theory of international relations that will provide an ...
... seek to develop an understanding of interna- tional political change more systematic than the understanding that currently exists . We do not pretend to develop a general theory of international relations that will provide an ...
Page 8
... . The real task for the peaceful state is to seek a peace that protects and guarantees its vital interests and its con- cept of international morality . 1 The nature of international political change The argument of 8 INTRODUCTION.
... . The real task for the peaceful state is to seek a peace that protects and guarantees its vital interests and its con- cept of international morality . 1 The nature of international political change The argument of 8 INTRODUCTION.
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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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