Key points are not available for this paper at this time.
rT HIS article describes a data-based study of the relationship between international war (the dependent variable) and two independent variables: (1) the national power equivalence, or power parity, of nation-states, and (2) the geographical proximity of nation-states. Two basic questions are examined: Is international war more probable between nation-states of approximately equal national power? Is international war more probable between geographically proximate nation-states? For reasons discussed below, power parity and geographical proximity are considered likely correlates of international war; there is, however, no assumption that these are the only pertinent variables. I agree fully with Bernard Brodie's assertion that theory of the causes of war in general or any war in particular that is not inherently eclectic and comprehensive, that is, which does not take into account at the outset all sorts of diverse factors, is bound for that very reason to be wrong.' The goal of this research was modest: to investigate the relationship between international war and two independent variables using one universe of cases. There are two principal hypotheses concerning the relationship between national power equivalence and violent international conflict. The more orthodox hypothesis asserts that power parity and international war are inversely related; that is, warfare is less likely between nation-states of approximately equal national power. As Tnis Claude has written:
David Garnham (Tue,) studied this question.