A study of superpower co-operation since World War II, this book examines the regulation of USA/USSR rivalry, and outlines the power of regional states to constrain and manipulate them for their own interests.

Experts from biology to political science explore the interaction between cooperation and conflict at multiple levels.

This text brings the drama of international conflict to life. Using two basic themes, conflict and co-operation, it explores the behaviour of states and other global actors. Case studies and historical vignettes illustrate the dynamic nature of global politics.

Chapter 1. Are There Enduring Logics of Cooperation in World Politics? Chapter 2. Explaining Conflict and Cooperation: Tools and Techniques of the Trade Chapter 3. From Westphalia to World War I Chapter 4. The Failure of Collective Security and World War II Chapter 5. The Cold War Chapter 6. Post-Cold War Cooperation, Conflict, Flashpoints Chapter 7. Globalization and Interdependence Chapter 8. The Information Revolution and Transnational Actors Chapter 9. What Can We Expect in the Future?

This book analyzes four main episodes of conflict and defense which have affected the region during the last three decades: the Iran-Iraq war (1980-1988), which effected the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) from a close, neighborly distance; the Iraq-Kuwait war (1990-1991), which constituted an attempt to invade the GCC and eliminate one of its member states, Kuwait. And the subsequent attempts to reestahblish a regional inter-state stability in the Gulf (during the mid-1990s, approximately), and the war of Islamic terrorism (notably al-Qa'ida) against Saudi Arabia (leading up to 2005). Each episode was driven by inimical interests and evolved as a distabilizintg influence on the Gulf states. At the same time, each conflict resulted in a paradoxical combination rivalry and cooperation among the GCC states themselves. A perpetual sequence of conflict and cooperation thus developed.

The unexpected end of the protracted conflict has been a sobering experience for scholars. No theory had anticipated how the Cold War would be terminated, and none should also be relied upon to explicate its legacy. But instead of relying on preconceived formulas to project past developments, taking a historical perspective to explain their causes and consequences allows one to better understand trends and their long-term significance. The present book takes such perspective, focusing on the evolution of security, its substance as well as its perception, the concurrent development of alliances and other cooperative structures for security, and their effectiveness in managing conflicts. In The Legacy of the Cold War Vojtech Mastny and Zhu Liqun bring together scholars to examine the worldwide effects of the Cold War on international security. Focusing on regions where the Cold War made the most enduring impact―the Euro-Atlantic area and East Asia―historians, political scientists, and international relations scholars explore alliances and other security measures during the Cold War and how they carry over into the twenty-first century.

A multilevel theory of international relations that accounts for intended and unintended outcomes of cooperation and conflict