George Modelski

Last updated
George Modelski
Born
Jerzy Modelski

(1926-01-09)January 9, 1926 [1]
Poznań
DiedFebruary 21, 2014(2014-02-21) (aged 88) [2] [3]
Washington, D. C.
Occupation(s)Political scientist, professor
Academic background
EducationPh. D. (1955), University of London [3]
George Modelski Georgemodelski.jpeg
George Modelski

George Modelski was Professor of political science in the University of Washington. [4] Modelski was a professor there from 1967 to 1995. [3]

Contents

Before working at the University of Washington, Modelski was a senior research fellow at the Institute of Advanced Studies at the Australian National University. [3]

Modelski did work on long-term processes in global politics and economics, as well as the world urban macrodynamics and world system evolution. [5] He was a neorealist. [6] In 2012 he was awarded with the Bronze Kondratieff Medal [7] by the International N. D. Kondratieff Foundation.

Long cycles theory

George Modelski defines global order as a 'management network centred on a lead unit and contenders for leadership, (pursuing) collective action at the global level'. [8] The system is allegedly cyclical. Each cycle is about 100 years' duration and a new hegemonic power appears each time:

Portugal 1492-1580; in the Age of Discovery

the Netherlands 1580-1688; beginning with the Eighty Years' War, 1579-1588

United Kingdom (1) 1688-1792; beginning with the wars of Louis XVI

United Kingdom (2) 1792-1914; beginning with the French Revolution and Napoleonic wars

the United States 1914 to (predicted) 2030; beginning with World War I and two. [9]

Each cycle has four phases;

1, Global War, which a) involves almost all global powers, b) is 'characteristically naval' [10] c) is caused by a system breakdown, d) is extremely lethal, e) results in a new global leader, capable of tackling global problems. [11] The war is a 'decision process' analogous to a national election. [12] The Thirty Years War, though lasting and destructive, was not a 'global war' [13]

2, World Power, which lasts for 'about one generation'. [14] The new incumbent power 'prioritises global problems', mobilises a coalition, is decisive and innovative. [15] Pre-modern communities become dependent on the hegemonic power [16]

3, Delegitimation. This phase can last for 20–27 years; the hegemonic power falters, as rival powers assert new nationalistic policies. [17]

4, Deconcentration. The hegemony's problem-solving capacity declines. It yields to a multipolar order of warring rivals. Pre-modern communities become less dependent. [18] A challenger appears (successively, Spain, France, France, Germany, and the USSR) [9] and a new global war ensues.

The hegemonic nations tend to have: 'insular geography'; a stable, open society; a strong economy; strategic organisation, and strong political parties. By contrast, the 'challenger' nations have: closed systems; absolute rulers; domestic instability; and continental geographic locations. [19]

The long cycle system is repetitive, but also evolutionary. According to Modelski, it originated in about 1493 through a) the decline of Venetian naval power, b) Chinese abandonment of naval exploration, and c) discovery of sea routes to India and the Americas. [20] It has developed in parallel with the growth of the nation-state, political parties, command of the sea, and 'dependency of pre-modern communities'. [21] The system is flawed, lacking in coherence, solidarity, and capacity to address the North-South divide. [22] Modelski speculates that US deconcentration might be replaced by a power based in the 'Pacific rim' or by an explicit coalition of nations, as 'co-operation is urgently required in respect of nuclear weapons'. [23]

Modelski 'dismisses the idea that international relations are anarchic'. His research, influenced by Immanuel Wallerstein, was 'measured in decades... a major achievement' says Peter J. Taylor [24]

Books

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References

  1. ↑ Biographical Directory. American Political Science Association. 1973. p. 335.
  2. ↑ "Passing of George Modelski". polisci.washington.edu/. University of Washington. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Archived copy". www.polisci.washington.edu. Archived from the original on 13 November 2014. Retrieved 20 July 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. ↑ "George Modelski". The Evolutionary World Politics Homepage (Official). Archived from the original on May 20, 2007. Retrieved October 18, 2013.
  5. ↑ George Modelski. "World System Evolution" . Retrieved October 18, 2013.
  6. ↑ Hobson, John M. (2000). The State and International Relations. Cambridge University Press. p. 189. doi:10.1017/cbo9780511612442. ISBN   978-0-521-64354-2.
  7. ↑ "The International N. D. Kondratieff Foundation". Ikf2010.ru. Archived from the original on October 12, 2013. Retrieved October 18, 2013.
  8. ↑ George Modelski, Long Cycles in World Politics, University of Washington, 1987, p8
  9. 1 2 George Modelski, Long Cycles in World Politics, University of Washington, 1987, p40
  10. ↑ George Modelski, Long Cycles in World Politics, University of Washington, 1987, p101
  11. ↑ George Modelski, Long Cycles in World Politics, University of Washington, 1987, p43-6
  12. ↑ George Modelski, Long Cycles in World Politics, University of Washington, 1987, p36-7
  13. ↑ George Modelski, Long Cycles in World Politics, University of Washington, 1987, p45
  14. ↑ George Modelski, Long Cycles in World Politics, University of Washington, 1987, p157
  15. ↑ George Modelski, Long Cycles in World Politics, University of Washington, 1987, p14, 83, 93
  16. ↑ George Modelski, Long Cycles in World Politics, University of Washington, 1987, chapter 8
  17. ↑ George Modelski, Long Cycles in World Politics, University of Washington, 1987, p40, p119
  18. ↑ George Modelski, Long Cycles in World Politics, University of Washington, 1987, p119-20, p207
  19. ↑ George Modelski, Long Cycles in World Politics, University of Washington, 1987, p90, p220-5, chapter 7
  20. ↑ George Modelski, Long Cycles in World Politics, University of Washington, 1987, p41-3, p95
  21. ↑ George Modelski, Long Cycles in World Politics, University of Washington, 1987, chapters 6, 7, 8; p153
  22. ↑ George Modelski, Long Cycles in World Politics, University of Washington, 1987, p201
  23. ↑ George Modelski, Long Cycles in World Politics, University of Washington, 1987, p41-3, p230-33
  24. ↑ Book reviews : Modelski, G. 1987: Long cycles in world politics. London: Macmillan. 244 pp. £29.50 cloth - Peter J. Taylor, 1989 (sagepub.com)
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