186 notes to pages 146–164
- According to Measuringworth.com, in 2011 terms the relative value of
$ 75 , 000 from 1882 ranges from $ 1 , 540 , 000 in real price to $ 94 , 500 , 000 when mea-
sured as a share of GDP (economic power).
Chapter Six
- Wohlforth ( 2009 ) offers another prestige- related interpretation of Fearon’s
analysis. Fearon argues that conflict over indivisible assets can explain war because
it precludes any ex ante mutually accepted bargaining space. However, it is difficult
to think of too many material international assets that are truly indivisible. Posi-
tional goods, such as prestige and status, on the other hand, are truly indivisible
because they are defined as a zero- sum game. Thus, any conflict that involves pres-
tige considerations entails some degree of indivisibility. This connection between
positional goods, prestige, and war is not new to international relations. Gilpin
( 1981 ), for example, saw great- power warfare as a major instrument of the affirma-
tion and creation of international prestige hierarchies (see also Lebow 2008 , 23 ). - For other rationalist studies of arms races, see Brams, Davis, and Straffin
1979 ; Jervis 1978 ; Snyder 1971. - This reading of arms races is based on the logic of the familiar “security
dilemma.” The security dilemma is triggered by the fact that “one state’s gain in se-
curity often inadvertently threatens others” (Jervis 1978 , 170 ). These newly threat-
ened actors are likely to take the necessary measures to restore their security by
increasing their defenses, bringing all actors back to the starting point, yet this time
burdened by increased defense expenditures. - For a discussion of such hybrid approaches, see Barkin 2003 ; Jackson 2004 ;
Jackson and Nexon 2004 ; Bially Mattern 2004 ; Lebow 2004.