Violent Conflict and Political Development Over the Long Run: China Versus Europe
Mark Dincecco|Yuhua Wang
Is the traditional logic by which violent conflict fosters long-run political development universal? To help address this question, article compares Europe with China. While historical warfare was very common across both units, representative government flourished only in Europe. We suggest that relationship between and depends on underlying geography context. In Europe, fragmentation rampant. Thus, tended to be external (i.e., interstate), attack threats were multidirectional. Furthermore, exit ability high Elites therefore a strong bargaining position demand representation return for new tax revenue. China, contrast, politically centralized. Here, internal, unidirectional, low. The emperor thus powerful enough extract funds without surrendering control. context, promoted autocratic re-entrenchment. conclude briefly analyzing relationships geography, conflict, sub-Saharan Africa Latin America.
Annual Review of Political Science