When Do States Balance Power? Refining, not Refuting, Structural Realist Balance of Power Theory

Abstract

This paper explores the logic of balancing in structural realist theory. Arguably, the durability of the unipolar moment is a challenge to the logic of balancing. The paper uses the tools of microeconomics to build a mathematical model of structural realism. The simple model reiterates the structural realist prediction that the weaker states should balance the unipole. Under a slight model extension, it is shown that efforts to balance in separate capabilities always tends to offset each other. Under this extension, the durability of the unipolar moment is in fact consistent with the predictions of structural realist theory.
OriginalsprogEngelsk
TidsskriftSGIR SGIR 7th Pan-European International Relations Conference
StatusUdgivet - 2010
BegivenhedSGIR 7th Pan-European International Relations Conference - Stockholm, Sverige
Varighed: 9 sep. 201011 sep. 2010

Konference

KonferenceSGIR 7th Pan-European International Relations Conference
Land/OmrådeSverige
ByStockholm
Periode09/09/201011/09/2010

Citationsformater