Strategic Rivalries in World Politics: Position, Space and Conflict Escalation

by Michael P. Colaresi, Karen Rasler, William R. Thompson

International conflict is neither random nor inexplicable. It is highly structured by antagonisms between a relatively small set of states that regard each other as rivals. Examining the 173 strategic rivalries in operation throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, this book identifies the differences rivalries make in the probability of conflict escalation and analyzes how they interact with serial crises, arms races, alliances and capability advantages. The authors distinguish between rivalries concerning territorial disagreement (space) and rivalries concerning status and influence (position) and show how each leads to markedly different patterns of conflict escalation. They argue that rivals are more likely to engage in international conflict with their antagonists than non-rival pairs of states and conclude with an assessment of whether we can expect democratic peace, economic development and economic interdependence to constrain rivalry-induced conflict.

Genres: International Relations

330 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

Reviews

[Deden Alfathimy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think, I'm still in doubt whether this literature is suited for International Relations, Geopolitics, and/or Strategic Studies? especially in conducting qualitative research because this book is filled with plenty quantitative analysis. any suggestions? honestly I'm very interested with its approach to see China-India relations as dyadic realm.