Market Expansion and Grand Strategy of Rising Powers
Two factors characterize the rising great powers during the industrial era: the first is the accumulation of power and wealth; the second is the use of this power and wealth either to obtain a dominant position or to reshape the international order. What is perplexing is that some states are keen to challenge the international status-quo even before accumulating the requisite power, while others have no desire to challenge the dominant power or the international status quo, even after developing the power needed to do so. Recent history provides clear examples of both scenarios: Germany under Wilhelm II is an example of the former, and America between the World War I and World War II demonstrates the latter. How might we explain this variation in behaviour of rising powers? In particular, why do states, which have yet to accumulate requisite power, mount aggressive challenges against dominant states that have a slim chance of success, rather than wait for a more opportune point in their development? What factors determine the strategic choices of rising powers?