Introduction

Abstract

Long cycles offer a new perspective on world politics. They permit the careful exploration of the ways in which world wars have recurred, and lead states such as Britain and the United States have succeeded each other in an orderly manner. They draw attention to the fact that great wars and leading powers were also linked to waves of major innovations, such as the age of discoveries or the industrial revolution, that have made the modern world what it is. They help cultivate a long-term outlook on international affairs.