Economic Interdependence and Conflict in World Politics [Paperback]

Crescenzi offers the field an innovative way to think about economic interdependence. This new perspective affords him the opportunity to offer fresh insights into research on trade and conflict. Crescenzi creatively adopts a multi-method approach, which blends game theory, statistical analysis, and case studies.Whether and when economic interdependence promotes peace or increases international conflict is one of the most important theoretical and policy questions in the international relations field, and one with enormous policy implications. Crescenzi makes a significant contribution to our knowledge by proposing a new causal mechanism based on strategic bargaining, developing a rigorous theoretical model, and testing it through a combination of historical case studies and statistical analysis. This book provides a useful model for theoretically-driven, multi-method research in the social sciences.>Economic Interdependence and Conflict in World Politics is an important addition to an important research program; it is essential reading for scholars and students interested in the liberal peace. Through an explicit theory and empirical tests, Crescenzi successfully draws attention not only to the potentially pacifying effects of economic interdependence, but also to the effects of asymmetric dependence on bargaining power.Economic Interdependence and Conflict in World Politics addresses a critical question in the trade/conflict debate - it tells us when and why trade can have pacifying effects and when and why it can increase conflict. Crescenzi's elegant and remarkably simple theory offers a novel and compelling explanation for the divergent findings of the trade-and-conflict research. The book will serve as a challenge to anyone engaging in the trade-conflict debate and should make the discussion more nuanced and fruitful.This book explores one of the most important current topics in international relations: whether trade diminishes or enhances conflict. Mark lSk