Theory I: Core Concepts and Systems

Abstract

The first theoretical focus in this book, is devoted to four Core Concepts of the ICB project. One is international crisis for the international system and/or relevant subordinate state system, and foreign policy crisis for one or more state actors confronted with the challenges of higher-than-normal value threats, higher-than-normal likelihood of violence, generated by hostile adversary acts, and finite time pressure for response to perceived threats. A second core concept is interstate protracted conflict between states over competing values, material—territory and/or economic benefits, and/or intangible benefits—ideological or religious. The third and fourth core concepts are closely related—the severity and impact of crises and conflicts for state adversaries and for the system(s), international and sub-systems, of which they are integral parts. It also provides a second theoretical focus, with two notable illustrations. The concept of international system is elaborated, with particular attention to systemic crisis, notably the U.S./USSR and, more broadly, the East/West dominant system Cold War Berlin Blockade Crisis (1948–1949), and a regional sub-system crisis, illustrated by the India/Pakistan crisis and war over Kashmir (1965–1966). This chapter also elaborates the concepts of severity and impact of both international crisis and interstate conflicts.