International Relations Theory of War 31
different polarity models will dictate different intrasystemic international
outcomes. Each of the three possible international systems will dictate dif-
ferent territorial outcomes at the end of the three war models involving
polar powers.
Territorial Outcomes under Unipolar SystemsUnipolar systems will dictate territorial expansion of the sole hyper-
power. In unipolar systems, central wars and major wars cannot occur
because in these systems there is a single polar power, a sole hyperpower.
However, there may be minor wars. Unipolar systems will dictate territo-
rial expansion of hyperpowers at the end of all minor wars in which they
are involved because any other result would undermine their superiority
as the sole hyperpower of the system and might lead to collapse of the
entire system—a result that the homeostasis principle dictates to players
to act to prevent.
The only unipolar system that has existed during the study’s subject
period, 1816–2016, is the unipolar system of 1992–2016. Under it all minor
wars in which the United States was involved as a sole hyperpower ended
with a territorial result consistent with the study hypotheses: the unipolar
system dictated to the United States to expand territorially at its end—the
U.S. invasion of Afghanistan (2001) and the U.S. invasion of Iraq (2003).
The constant territorial expansion of hyperpowers in unipolar systems
at the end of minor wars in which they participated stems from the way
these systems influence the values of the two transhistorical order prin-
ciples that always act in the international system. While the principle of
anarchy will spur hyperpowers to tend always to expansion through their
enormous capabilities, any other result (i.e., contraction or preservation
of territorial status quo) would contravene the other order principle, of
homeostasis, inasmuch as any preservation of or decrease in the ground
strength of hyperpowers at the end of wars that they have fought may
lead to a collapse of the system—a result that the homeostasis principle
dictates to players to act to prevent. Therefore, in unipolar systems, the
two transhistorical order principles will dictate to their sole constituent
hyperpowers to expand territorially. The two other territorial outcomes,
territorial contraction or preservation of territorial status quo ante bellum,
are not an option at the end of minor wars occurring in unipolar systems.
Territorial contraction of hyperpowers in unipolar systems at the end of
minor wars in which they have participated may undermine the homeo-
stasis. A decrease in the land power of the hyperpower that loses territory
will always lead to a decrease in its total power. This will violate the equi-
librium and the homeostasis will be threatened. This is an outcome that
may impair the polarity of the system, a phenomenon that the homeosta-
sis principle dictates to players to act to prevent. The territorial status quo