The paths to war: Exploring the dynamics of power transition

Power transition, a theory of major power war, offers a unique paradigm from which to explore the potential significance of military power and interstate disputes on the onset of war. According to present conceptualization, power parity and dissatisfaction over the status quo are the preconditions essential to war initiation between major powers. However, the role of military power and the impact of interstate disputes have yet to be evaluated within the dynamics of power transition. The goal of this dissertation is to explore and test extensions based on variables of military power and interstate disputes with the end objective of adding to the explanatory value of power transition theory.; The first aspect of the research centers on defining the effect of military power within power transition on the onset of war between major powers. Specifically, the effect relative military position and military development have on the occurrence of war between a dyad of major power actors. The second research area explores the evaluation of satisfaction with the status quo, and whether dissatisfaction, as reflected by the participation in interstate disputes, affects the likelihood of war. In addition, these dynamics of power and satisfaction are utilized to explore the effects on the severity of major power war. Overall, the research endeavors to better understand the phenomenon of war: the conditions, structural and otherwise, in which war develops, and the severity that results as powerful major powers go to war.