Title: Strategic rivalries in world politics : position, space and conflict escalation /
Authors: Colaresi, Michael P., 1976-; Rasler, Karen A., 1952-; Thompson, William R.
Publisher: Cambridge University Press,
Year: 2007
Subjects: War; Strategic rivalries (International relations); Strategic rivalries (World politics)
Abstract: "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 lead to markedly different patterns of conflict escalation. They argue that rivals are more likely to engage in international conflict with their antagonists than nonrival 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."--Jacket.
Contents: An introduction to strategic rivalries -- Defining and identifying strategic rivalries in world politics -- Describing strategic rivalies -- Protracted conflict and crisis escalation -- Serial crisis behavior and escalating risks -- Contiguity, space and position in the major power subsystem -- Initiating and escalating positional and spatial rivalries -- Arms build-ups and alliances in the steps-to work theory -- Contested territory and conflict resolution -- Inducements, facilitators, and suppressors.