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
... theory construction . This study will draw on the insights provided by these two types of social theories in an attempt to understand international political change . Each type of social theory makes its own contribution . However , in ...
... theory construction . This study will draw on the insights provided by these two types of social theories in an attempt to understand international political change . Each type of social theory makes its own contribution . However , in ...
Page x
Robert Gilpin. nomic theory , or what some call rational - choice theory , focuses on the individual ( Becker , 1976 , p . 5 ; Rogowski , 1978 ) . It as- sumes that individual behavior is determined wholly by rational- ity ; that is ...
Robert Gilpin. nomic theory , or what some call rational - choice theory , focuses on the individual ( Becker , 1976 , p . 5 ; Rogowski , 1978 ) . It as- sumes that individual behavior is determined wholly by rational- ity ; that is ...
Page xi
... theory of rational choice is that it can draw on a large and well - tested body of economic theory . In fact , economics provides a highly developed theory of social be- havior , and for this reason economic theory has been applied to ...
... theory of rational choice is that it can draw on a large and well - tested body of economic theory . In fact , economics provides a highly developed theory of social be- havior , and for this reason economic theory has been applied to ...
Page xii
... theory of international relations . Because this book will analyze political change in the past , as well as in the modern world , a relevant question is whether or not economic theory is universally applicable . Is its utility re ...
... theory of international relations . Because this book will analyze political change in the past , as well as in the modern world , a relevant question is whether or not economic theory is universally applicable . Is its utility re ...
Page xiii
... theory in an 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 ...
... theory in an 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 ...
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