In this contribution to the literature on causes of war, Douglas Lemke asks whether same factors affect minor powers as major ones. He investigates power parity and dissatisfaction with status quo have an impact within Africa, Far East, Middle East South America. argues that there are similarities across these regions levels power, correlates war around world. The extent which they increase risk varies regions, however, book looks at possible sources cross-regional variation, concluding...

Relevant dyads are pairs of contiguous states or including at least one major power. They argued to be the population risk international conflict and increasingly commonly used as cases analyzed by researchers. Does reliance on relevant (a nonrandom sample all dyads) introduce threats valid inference? The authors argue that dyad usage might related problems measurement error selection bias investigate whether there is evidence such potential existing in actual data sets. Results show for...

Starr (1978) argues that the initiation of war requires both opportunity and willingness. Most theories international conflict, however, consider only one these conditions. Power transition theory, which focuses on power parity as negative evaluations status quo willingness, is an exception. Although logic theory compelling empirical support impressive, suffers from a lack generalizability, inadequate conceptualization operationalization quo. We offer preliminary corrections for weaknesses...

A tremendous amount of attention is paid to whether or not joint democracy precludes wars within dyads. Although there now seems be some measure consensus that democracies rarely never fight one another, the scholarly debate continues heated, lengthy, and occasionally negative. Part reason why democratic peace proposition has met so much opposition might lie in threat it poses many established theories international relations. However, empirical phenomenon may compatible with at least theory...

Unquestioned assumptions of universal patterns coupled with unwillingness to conceive political entities existing at different levels empirical statehood render international relations research poorly equipped understand Africa's relations. Consequently, Africa is effectively missing from prevailing theorizing and data set construction. After discussing specific ways omitted standard research, the author reviews four recent volumes describing for clues about how close gap between experiences...

We combine analysis of rivalry with consideration a possible selection bias. discover that what makes great powers more likely to be rivals is statistically related their propensity experience war. A censored probit allows simultaneous estimation the influence six covariates on probability and war, while controlling for statistical linkage between two dependent variables. Consequently, we recast some past research. For example, contiguity parity actually reduce war power once control are in...

States that choose to involve themselves in an ongoing dispute do so by choosing align with or against one of the original disputants. What factors lead states prefer help side over other? We consider effect disputants' power, political and economic institutional similarities between each disputant aligning state, formal alliance commitments state on these alignment choices. evaluate expectations empirically examining choices joined another a Militarized Interstate Dispute during period 1816...

Abstract Quantitative studies of conflict analyze either civil or interstate war. While there may be observable differences between and wars, theories focus on phenomena—such as information asymmetries, commitment problems, issue divisibility—that should explain both conflicts within states. In analyses onset, duration, outcome combining we find most variables have similar effects “types” We thus question whether is any justification for separate study war types.

Investigation of the causes war requires analysis characteristics and behavior only those dyads countries that are potential belligerents. Several scholars have offered rules for delineating such "relevant dyads". One common element is contiguity. A second major power status. Any dyad involving either contiguous states or a defined as relevant. Such definitions relevant simple useful. Nevertheless, I contend some not to study war, while non‐contiguous For example, Israel Iraq neither...

Regions and Powers: The Structure of International Security. By Barry Buzan Ole Wæver. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2004. 596p. 32.99 paper.This book is based on the assumptions that regional level security has always been important, grown in importance over past seven or so decades, emerged as especially prominent with end Cold War. Unfortunately, neorealists are unable to recognize increasing interactions because they focus exclusively global level. Equally regrettable fact newer...

In order to evaluate the applicability of power politics theories war and international stability interactions among nonstate actors, I test hypotheses from transition theory neorealist arguments about systemic polarity against behavior 20 state actors in nineteenth‐century South America. find considerable support for two three tested conclude that existing IR has more explanatory within empirical domain relations than critics such claim.

(2003). Power Transition Theory and the Rise of China. International Interactions: Vol. 29, No. 4, pp. 269-271.

This article offers an interpretation of the current international situation from perspective power transition theory. Previous efforts to understand what end Cold War means for relations have provided only part picture. Optimistic views tend deny possibility emergence new threats, while pessimistic arguments generally fail recognize that prospects major war been significantly reduced by dramatic events last half decade. The offered here is potentially advantageous because it draws insights...

International relations researchers study the interactions of states in international system. Excluded from almost all such analyses is any consideration how those became members system first place. State making researchers, contrast, focus on formation experiences states. Drawing insights both approaches, we argue that with positive birth legacies should be more successful at state and achieve favorable outcomes than without legacies. As fighting winning wars are a common pathway to...