War and Change in World Politics (English, Robert Gilpin | Gilpin Robert)

名著

国際関係の名著だが、ミクロ経済学の概念がないと、読解は難航するだろう。

Four Stars

nice product

Waltzとの違い

国際関係論においていわゆるリアリズムに属するとされるGilpinの代表作の一つです。Waltzと並んで「ネオリアリズム」の代表格とされることもありますが、実際に読んで見ると、むしろWaltzとの違いを意識して読み比べるのがいいのではないかと思われます。その意味では、いわゆる覇権安定論との関係ばかりではなく、「伝統的リアリズム」との関係について、Waltzのそれに対する関係との比較で考えるながら読むというのも、一つの読み方かもしれません。Gilpinの当時のもう一つの代表作であるThe Political Economy of International Relationsに比べて、（翻訳は出ていませんが）量的にも内容的にもとっつきやすいです。

Gilpin is surprisingly easy to read and interpret

Gilpin is surprisingly easy to read and interpret, this book is a great size to carry around for school. Great seller and very great shipping!

Decline of Empire

I had to read this book for class. The sections on the decline of empire/hegemony are essential to understanding why the United States is doomed to fail. The author explains that the cost of maintaining empire eventually bankrupt the empire and a new hegemony replaces the old one. Although this can be done peacefully (collapse of USSR), the historical norm is total war between the hegemony/empire and the new challengers.The chances of U.S. citizens electing somebody like Ron Paul who will drastically scale back overseas forces and end preemtive wars is not good. More likely than not status quo politicians like Bush, Obama, Romney, etc will get elected and continue to maintain America's 900 military bases in 130 countries; start new wars and expand old ones; spend vast sums of money on expensive military research and projects. According to Gilpin's chapter on empire decline, this means that the U.S. will eventually bankrupt itself and there will be a change in the international system. Hopefully the change will be peaceful (U.S. voluntarily bringing forces home as Ron Paul advocates), and not violent (U.S. goes to war with China, Russia or another rising power that threatens U.S. hegemony).