Puzzles Of The Democratic Peace: Theory, Geopolitics And The Transformation Of World Politics (evolutionary Processes In World Politics)

Ever since the revival of Kant's Perpetual Peace thesis, the linkages between democracy and peace has been a central topic in international relations research, with sustained debate over whether it exists and if it does, why it does. In this stimulating volume, two leading IR scholars place the democratic peace debate within a broader context, including the extent of threats in international relations, degree of satisfaction with the status quo, the diffusion of democracy, and the rise of the trading state. Step by step, Thompson and Rasler examine the democratic peace through a series of puzzles concerning arguments at the dyadic, systemic, and individual state levels. Synthesizing a broad range of knowledge and linking islands of theory, Puzzles of the Democratic Peace provides a distinctive look at the state of the field and paths forward. Ever Since The Revival Of Kant's Perpetual Peace Thesis, The Linkage Between Democracy And Peace Has Been A Central Topic In International Relations Research, With Sustained Debate Over Whether It Exists And If It Does, Why It Does. In This Stimulating Volume, Two Leading Ir Scholars Place The Democratic Peace Debate Within A Broader Context, Including The Extent Of Threats In International Relations, Degree Of Satisfaction With The Status Quo, The Diffusion Of Democracy, And The Rise Of The Trading State. Pt. 1. Introduction -- 1. Developing Perspective On Democratic Peace Phenomena -- Part 2. Contexts In Which Democracies Emerge : Chickens Or Eggs? -- 2. External Threat, Domestic Power Concentration, And Disputatious Foreign Policies -- 3. Questions Of Regional Primacy -- Part 3. The Relative Strength Of Regime Types In Coercive Contexts -- 4. Path-dependencies And Foreign Policy -- 5. Do Rivalries Trump Regime Type? -- 6. Do The Gods Of War Really Favor Democracies? -- Part 4. The Systemic Context In Which Democracies Compete -- 7. Do Democratic-autocratic Rivalries Muddy The Monadic Waters? -- 8. Long-term Structural Change And Regime Type -- 9. Democratic Alliance Joining Or Changing System Leader Containment Strategies? -- Part 5. Conclusion -- 10. History And Selective Transformations Of World Politics. Karen Rasler And William R. Thompson. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [250]-264) And Index. Front Matter....Pages i-xi Front Matter....Pages 1-1 Developing Perspective on Democratic Peace Phenomena....Pages 3-34 Front Matter....Pages 35-35 External Threat, Domestic Power Concentration, and Disputatious Foreign Policies....Pages 37-59 Questions of Regional Primacy....Pages 60-87 Front Matter....Pages 89-89 Path-Dependencies and Foreign Policy....Pages 91-112 Do Rivalries Trump Regime Type?....Pages 113-136 Do the Gods of War Really Favor Democracies?....Pages 137-157 Front Matter....Pages 159-159 Do Democratic-Autocratic Rivalries Muddy the Monadic Waters?....Pages 161-177 Long-Term Structural Change and Regime Type....Pages 178-197 Democratic Alliance Joining or Changing System Leader Containment Strategies?....Pages 198-215 Front Matter....Pages 217-217 History and Selective Transformations of World Politics....Pages 219-235 Back Matter....Pages 236-271

this Volume Is Extremely Impressive. Its Careful, Well-balanced Theoretical Approach And Its Systematic Empirical Testing Will Quickly Make It The Gold Standard For Books On The Democratic Peace. Each Chapter Builds On The Preceding Chapter By Testing Important Components Of The New Theory, Building A Mountain Of Empirical Evidence In Support Of The New Approach. Scholars Will Be Engrossed By The Sophisticated Theoretical Comparisons And The New Synthesis That The Authors Advance.—jeffrey Pickering, Kansas State University