Fall of Great Powers: Peace, Stability, and Legitimacy

Summary:

The last few years have witnessed the rapid and complete collapse of the Soviet Union, a collapse which has produced dramatic effects, some considered beneficial (for instance, the end of the Cold War, disarmament, self-determination for Eastern Europe), others negative (for instance, ethnic conflicts in the old Soviet Union and Yugoslavia, as well as instability in general).

The book investigates the reasons for the fall of great powers, analyzing not only the Soviet situation, but also Britain, Austria-Hungary, Germany, and the United States. Proceeding from this, the contributors examine the consequences of the fall of great powers for peace and stability in the world. The tension between stability and legitimacy, between a stable and a just democratic order, is particularly explored. The contributors include many of the world's leading experts in their respective fields, among them Paul Kennedy, John Gaddis, William McNeill, and Immanuel Wallerstein.

Participants:

J.F. Ade Ajayi, A. O. Chubarian, Istvan Deak, Michael W. Doyle, Aaron L. Friedberg, John Lewis Gaddis, Imanuel Geiss, Robert Gilpin, Wang Gunwu, Paul Kennedy, Geir Lundestad, William H. McNeill, Wolfgang J. Mommsen, Alex Nove, Carol R. Saivetz, Zara Steiner, Susan Strange, Immanuel Wallerstein, Vladislav M. Zubok.