International Relations Theory of War 33
other result—territorial expansion or territorial contraction—will oppose
the other order principle of homeostasis. This is because any increase or
decrease in the military strength of one of the two superpowers at the end
of wars they fight may lead to the collapse of the system—a result that the
homeostasis principle dictates the players to act to prevent. The two other
territorial outcomes—territorial contraction or territorial expansion—
cannot happen at the end of minor wars fought in bipolar systems. Territorial
contraction of superpowers in bipolar systems at the end of wars in which
they will participate may impair the homeostasis, inasmuch as a decrease
in the land power of the superpower that loses territory will inevitably lead
to a decrease in its total power. This will result in violation of the equilib-
rium and a threat to the homeostasis. This outcome may impair the polar-
ity of the system, a phenomenon that the homeostasis principle dictates to
players to act to prevent. Territorial expansion of superpowers in bipolar
systems at the end of wars in which they will participate may also damage
the homeostasis, as an increase in the land power of the superpower that
acquires new territory must lead to an increase in its total power. This will
result in violation of the equilibrium and a threat to the homeostasis. This
outcome may infringe on the polarity of the system, a phenomenon that
the homeostasis principle dictates to the players to act to prevent.
Territorial Outcomes under Multipolar SystemsAlternatively, multipolar systems will dictate territorial nonexpansion—
status quo ante bellum or territorial contraction—or territorial expansion
of the great powers.
Under multipolar systems, all three possible war models may occur:
central, major, and minor wars. These systems will dictate two key territo-
rial outcomes, according to the model of the war. Multipolar systems will
dictate a sole territorial outcome of the great powers constituting them at
the end of all central wars in which they are involved—prevention of terri-
torial expansion, which will manifest in a status quo or territorial contrac-
tion, as any other result may lead to a rise of the expanding power to the
status of potential hegemon in the system and may lead to a collapse of
the system, a result that the homeostasis principle dictates to the players to
act to prevent. In multipolar systems, great powers will also be penalized if
they act to expand territorially at the end of central wars and will be forced
to contract territorially at the end of these wars.
In the period assessed in the study, 1816–2016, there were two multi-
polar systems, in 1849–1870 and 1910–1945, during which there were two
central wars. These were the First and the Second World Wars that took
place in the late multipolar system of 1910–1945. At the end of these two
wars, the great powers that aspired to expand territorially in the war had
to contract territorially or maintain their territorial status quo preceding