Ameninţări fără răspuns

Why do states fail to act when threats put their survival at risk? Randall L. Schweller asks why some can gather what they need to act. Others cannot. He studies underbalancing: states may fail to spot a threat or ignore it. They may also act in ways that fail or raise the risk. He sees this as a common problem that few have studied.

This study of world politics is for readers drawn to one question. How does politics at home shape a state's response to threats from abroad? Schweller uses an approach called neoclassical realism. His theory draws on four factors within states. These help explain why states respond in different ways. They also help explain why responses change over time. He uses them to build five models of what causes underbalancing.

He tests these models on several cases from the past. He looks at Britain and France between the two world wars. He also studies France from 1877 to 1913. Another case is the War of the Triple Alliance. It lasted from 1864 to 1870. Paraguay fought Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay in that war.

Schweller argues that divided states face the greatest risk of underbalancing. These states lack strong bonds at home. Their politics set limits on what those in power can do. Adina‑Maria Simion translated this edition. It forms part of the Relații internaționale series.