Int Rel Theo War

80 International Relations Theory of War

Table 4.5

Stability of the Bipolar System, 1946–1991

Central Wars Great Wars Small Wars Duration
(Days)

Deaths

Total

Korean War

(#151)

1,127 910,084

Soviet Invasion

of Hungary

(#156)

10 2,426

Vietnam War

(#163)

2,912 1,021,442

Gulf War

(#211)

86 41,466

4. Gulf War (#211), between Kuwait, the United States, Canada, United
   Kingdom, Italy, Morocco, Iraq, Egypt, Oman, France, United Arab
   Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Syria (8/2/1990–4/11/1991).^28

Table 4.5 shows the degree of stability of the bipolar system that

occurred throughout the world in 1946–1991.

SYSTEMIC FACTORS AND THE STABILITY OF
THE UNIPOLAR SYSTEM

The Stability of the Unipolar System, 1992–2016

The unipolar system of 1992–2016 occurred throughout the world and
involved one polar power, the United States, as a sole hyperpower con-
stituting the system. In that period, just two wars were fought between
countries involving the sole polar power constituting the system:

1. Invasion of Afghanistan of 2001 (#225), between Canada, France,
   United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, and Afghanistan
   (10/7/2001–7/26/2003)^29


2. Invasion of Iraq of 2003 (#227), between Australia, United Kingdom,
   the United States and Iraq (3/20/2003–6/28/2004)^30

The end date of these two wars is disputed. The study assumes that the
Afghanistan War ended after the government of Afghanistan was formed,