Int Rel Theo War

International Relations Theory of War 65

Territorial

expansion of the

hyperpower:

Unipolar systems

will dictate the

territorial expansion

of the hyperpowers

at the end of the

minor wars they

fight because any

other outcome will

lead to disruption of

their supremacy in

the system, which

in turn may impair

the homeostasis,

a result that the

system resists

Maintaining the

territorial status

quo of the two

superpowers:

Bipolar systems

will dictate the

preservation of

territorial status

quo of the two

superpowers at the

end of the minor

wars they fight,

because any other

outcome will lead

to disruption of

their supremacy in

the system, which

in turn may impair

the homeostasis,

a result that the

system resists

1. No territorial
   expansion of the
   great powers:
   Multipolar systems
   will dictate the absence
   of territorial expansion
   of the great powers
   at the end of the
   central wars that they
   fight because any
   other outcome would
   position the victor as
   a potential hegemon
   in the system and may
   therefore impair the
   homeostasis, a result
   that the system resists


2. Territorial
   expansion of the
   great powers:
   Multipolar systems
   will allow the territorial
   expansion of the
   great powers at the
   end of the major and
   minor wars that they
   fight because such
   an outcome would
   not threaten the
   homeostasis of the
   system, a result that
   the system permits

The intra-
systemic
dependent
variable, or
degree of
territorial
expansion
of the polar
powers at
the end of
wars

Table 2.5 (Continued)