Why Europe Avoided Hegemony: A Historical Perspective on the Balance of Power
Jørgen Møller
Recent work demonstrates that the European state system—which, since Middle Ages, saw recurrent formation of balances power—constitutes a historical exception rather than rule among anarchic international systems. In this study, I set out to explain why Europe avoided hegemony. argue character state–society relations at time intensified geopolitical competition leads different systemwide outcomes with respect balancing and Where multiple privileged groups already exist, rulers must negotiate range societal actors extract revenue resources for warfare. This further entrenches institutional constraints on privileges enjoyed by groups, which in turn make it difficult convert conquest into expansion. absence preexisting however, instead weakens ability check their rulers. dynamic creates return-to-scale logic facilitates conquest. My argument accounts diverging trajectories of, one hand, medieval early modern and, other ancient China—where Qin eliminated its rivals established universal domination.
International Studies Quarterly