Balance of Power in World History [Paperback]

The balance of power is one of the most influential ideas in international relations, yet it has never been comprehensively examined in pre-modern or non-European contexts. This book redresses this imbalance. The authors present eight new case studies of balancing and balancing failure in pre-modern and non-European international systems.Introduction: Balance and Hierarchy in International Systems; S.J.Kaufman, R.Little & W.C.Wohlforth Balancing and Balancing Failure in Biblical Times: Assyria and the Ancient Middle Eastern System 900-600 BCE; S.J.Kaufman & W.C.Wohlforth The Greek City States in the Fifth Century BCE: Persia and the Balance of Power; R.Little Intra-Greek Balancing, the Mediterranean Crisis of ca. 201-200 B.C., and the Rise of Rome; A.M.Eckstein The Forest and the King of Beasts: Hierarchy and Opposition in Ancient India (c.500 - c.232 BCE); W.J.Brenner The Triumph of Domination in the Ancient Chinese System; V.Tin-bor Hui 'A Republic for Expansion': The Roman Constitution and Empire and Balance of Power Theory; D.Deudney Hierarchy and Resistance in the American State-Systems, 1400-1800 CE; C.Jones Stability and Hierarchy in East Asian International Relations, 1300 to 1900CE; D.C.Kang Conclusion: Theoretical Insights from the Study of World History; S.J.Kaufman, R.Little & W.C.Wohlforth

'[...] the authors have addressed a crucially and lamentably under-researched area, and done a very good job in bringing material into the light that will generate a great deal of positive debate both within realism and outside it.' - Professor Michael Sheehan, University of Wales Swansea, UK

'...a welcome addition to the growing body of interdisciplinary research in the history of world politics.' Lucas Freire, Political Studies Review

WILLIAM J. BRENNER Doctoral Candidate, Department of Political Science, Johns Hopkins University, USADANIEL DEUDNEY Associate Professor of Political Science, Johns Hopkins University, USAAlc³