Crises in a Transforming International System

Abstract

An international crisis, however defined or conceptualized, generates serious stress with which decision makers must cope. Distinguished from other international phenomena by its high levels of threat and surprise, and relatively short decision time, a crisis is the perfect setting for mishap, miscalculation, accidental war, unanticipated consequences and disaster. (C. Hermann, 1972:13-14). All of the ingredients necessary for bridging the peace- war gap are embodied in a crisis. Crisis situations spawn international stresses which provoke the restraints on total conflict. In a crisis conflict thresholds become tenuous and highly susceptible to violation.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 1975
Accession Number
ADA005353

Entities

People

  • Richard S. Beal

Organizations

  • University of Southern California

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Counter WMD
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • California
  • Cold War
  • Commerce
  • Contingency Operations (Military)
  • Economic Systems
  • Foreign Policy
  • Governments
  • Intergovernmental Organizations
  • International Organizations
  • International Relations
  • Military Research
  • National Security
  • New York
  • Second World War
  • Security
  • United States
  • War

Readers

  • International Relations and Conflict Resolution
  • Military History of the United States in the 20th Century.
  • Theoretical Analysis.