Great Power Competition in the Age of Islam: Contemporary Lessons from the Ottoman-Safavid Rivalry

Abstract

Proponents of Thucydides' Trap warn that conflict between a rising power and an established power may be impossible to avoid. The Ottoman-Safavid rivalry 500 years ago is evidence of this theory. Contentious economic interests, competing geographic concerns, dissimilar cultures, and differing political systems led to centuries marked by periods of both peace and conflict. The rivalry provides six lessons: war may be unavoidable but does not need to be catastrophic; domestic unity can lead to international disunity; economic interdependence does not abate economic conflict; alliances can and will shift rapidly; expect foreign interference in domestic affairs; and finally, rivalry can last for centuries.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 06, 2018
Accession Number
AD1068686

Entities

People

  • Christian H. Heller

Organizations

  • Marine Corps University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Civil War
  • Communities
  • Economic Systems
  • Geography
  • Governments
  • Intergovernmental Organizations
  • International Organizations
  • Middle East
  • Military Organizations
  • Money
  • National Politics
  • New York
  • North America
  • Treaties
  • United States
  • United States Naval Academy
  • Urban Areas

Fields of Study

  • Political science

Readers

  • East Asian Political and Security Studies within the Soviet Union
  • Strategic Security Studies