How the Research Is Empirically Examined 149
Table 4.21
Key Test Cases, Under the Three Possible Polarity Models
Multipolar Systems Bipolar Systems Unipolar Systems
Germany Unification
Wars:
- Second Schleswig-
Holstein War (1864) - Seven Weeks’ War
(1866) - Franco-Prussian
(1870–1871)
The multipolar system
allowed one of the major
powers constituting the
system, Prussia, to expand
territorially at the end of
these three wars because
that expansion did not
position it as a potential
hegemon of the system - First and Second
World War
The multipolar system
prevented one of the major
powers constituting
the system, Germany,
to expand territorially
at the end of these two
wars because such an
expansion would have
positioned it as a potential
hegemon of the system;
the system also penalized
Germany for its attempt
to become a hegemon in
the system and forced it to
contract territorially at the
end of the wars- Korean War (1950–1953)
- Vietnam War (1965–1973)
- Gulf War (1991)
The bipolar system led one
of the two superpowers, the
United States, to maintain
the territorial status quo
preceding the outbreak of
the wars - Soviet Invasion of
Hungary (1956) - Soviet-Afghan War
(1979–1988)
The bipolar system led one
of the two superpowers, the
Soviet Union, to maintain
the territorial status quo
preceding the outbreak of
the wars- US Invasion of
Afghanistan (2001) - US Invasion of
Iraq (2003)
The unipolar system
dictated to the sole
hyperpower, the
United States, to
expand territorially at
the end of the wars
- US Invasion of