In this book a preeminent scholar examines the global causes and consequences of international conflict. International Political Earthquakes
is the master work of the preeminent scholar Michael Brecher. Brecher, who came of age during WWII, has witnessed more than eight decades of conflict and spent his career studying the dynamics of relations among nations throughout the world.When terrorism, ethnic conflict, military build-up, or other local tensions spark an international crisis, Brecher argues, the structure of global politics determines its potential to develop into open conflict. The conflict, in turn, may generate world-wide political upheaval.Comparing international crises to earthquakes, Brecher proposes a scale analogous to the Richter scale to measure the severity and scope of a crisis’ impact on the landscape of international politics.Brecher’s conclusions about the causes of international conflict and its consequence for global stability make a convincing case for gradual, non-violent approaches to crisis resolution.