The Steps To War explanation is a theory of international relations based on the issue paradigm that empirically establishes the war-proneness of territorial issues and the use of power politics practices.[1][2] The framework is established by Paul D. Senese and John A. Vasquez in the 2008 book The Steps to War: An Empirical Study, though many of key insights, such as the role of alliances, arms races, and territory in promoting escalation of disputes to war, have been elaborated in previous works.[3][4] The Steps To War explanation makes two major contributions to the war literature. First, it shows that not all disputes are equally likely to escalate to war. In particular, it presents a theoretical and empirical case for the war-proneness of territorial disputes. And second, the theory demonstrates that the very power politics practices that political realists claim prevent war actually increase its probability of occurring.
The Steps To War framework posits an underlying and proximate cause of war. The chief underlying cause of war is the existence of a territorial dispute. Disputes over territory are less likely to be resolved than disputes over other issues, and given their salient and transcendental nature, can be expected to create hardline interest groups and recurrent conflict.[5] The proximate cause of war is the use of power politics, such as alliances and arms races, that leaders are told to use by the dominant realist folklore. By handling issues in this manner, states increase threat perception and hostility on the other, furthering entrenching hardliners and therefore reducing the probability of a compromise.[6]
Referencesedit
^Owsiak, Andrew P. (2017-07-27). "The Steps to War: Theory and Evidence". Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Politics. doi:10.1093/acrefore/9780190228637.013.275. ISBN978-0-19-022863-7. Retrieved 2022-03-06.
^Senese, Paul D.; Vasquez, John A. (2005). "Assessing the Steps to War". British Journal of Political Science. 35 (4): 607–633. doi:10.1017/S0007123405000323. ISSN 0007-1234. JSTOR 4092414. S2CID 153934751.
Gibler, Douglas M. (1997). "Control the issues, control the conflict: The effects of alliances that settle territorial issues on interstate rivalries". International Interactions. 22 (4): 341–368. doi:10.1080/03050629708434897.
Senese, Paul D.; Vasquez, John A. (2008). The Steps To War: An Empirical Study. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. ISBN978-0-691-13892-3.
Vasquez, John A. (1983). The Power of Power Politics: A Critique. New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press. ISBN978-0-8135-0919-8.
External linksedit
Correlates of War
The Issue Correlates of War
November 21, 2023
steps, steps, explanation, theory, international, relations, based, issue, paradigm, that, empirically, establishes, proneness, territorial, issues, power, politics, practices, framework, established, paul, senese, john, vasquez, 2008, book, steps, empirical, . The Steps To War explanation is a theory of international relations based on the issue paradigm that empirically establishes the war proneness of territorial issues and the use of power politics practices 1 2 The framework is established by Paul D Senese and John A Vasquez in the 2008 book The Steps to War An Empirical Study though many of key insights such as the role of alliances arms races and territory in promoting escalation of disputes to war have been elaborated in previous works 3 4 The Steps To War explanation makes two major contributions to the war literature First it shows that not all disputes are equally likely to escalate to war In particular it presents a theoretical and empirical case for the war proneness of territorial disputes And second the theory demonstrates that the very power politics practices that political realists claim prevent war actually increase its probability of occurring Contents 1 Theory 2 References 2 1 Works cited 3 External linksTheory editThe Steps To War framework posits an underlying and proximate cause of war The chief underlying cause of war is the existence of a territorial dispute Disputes over territory are less likely to be resolved than disputes over other issues and given their salient and transcendental nature can be expected to create hardline interest groups and recurrent conflict 5 The proximate cause of war is the use of power politics such as alliances and arms races that leaders are told to use by the dominant realist folklore By handling issues in this manner states increase threat perception and hostility on the other furthering entrenching hardliners and therefore reducing the probability of a compromise 6 References edit Owsiak Andrew P 2017 07 27 The Steps to War Theory and Evidence Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Politics doi 10 1093 acrefore 9780190228637 013 275 ISBN 978 0 19 022863 7 Retrieved 2022 03 06 Senese Paul D Vasquez John A 2005 Assessing the Steps to War British Journal of Political Science 35 4 607 633 doi 10 1017 S0007123405000323 ISSN 0007 1234 JSTOR 4092414 S2CID 153934751 Vasquez 1983 Gibler 1997 Senese and Vasquez p 13 Senese and Vasquez p 31 Works cited edit Gibler Douglas M 1997 Control the issues control the conflict The effects of alliances that settle territorial issues on interstate rivalries International Interactions 22 4 341 368 doi 10 1080 03050629708434897 Senese Paul D Vasquez John A 2008 The Steps To War An Empirical Study Princeton NJ Princeton University Press ISBN 978 0 691 13892 3 Vasquez John A 1983 The Power of Power Politics A Critique New Brunswick NJ Rutgers University Press ISBN 978 0 8135 0919 8 External links editCorrelates of War The Issue Correlates of War Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Steps to war amp oldid 1137796970, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
