Description

What happens when one empire or hegemon cedes the global stage to a rising power? Supplanting Empires: Power Transitions Across Human History argues that, historically, such power transitions tend to be relatively smooth, resulting in the preservation of the status quo with respect to the global order and institutions. This stems from the tendency of rising powers to be closely associated with declining powers, to the point that they generally support and perpetuate the old ways of governing. They maintain similar governing institutions, retain ties to the former empire's allies, and generally endorse the declining empire's ideology and norms. The violence involved in such transitions tends to be limited, and societies and economies are typically left undisturbed. To test this proposition, Kendall Stiles and his students undertake a systematic study of numerous power transitions across millennia of human history. The implications of these findings have considerable relevance with respect to the contemporary power struggle between the United States and China.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Shang-Western Zhou Transition
Chapter 2: Neo-Assyria-Neo-Babylonia Transition
Chapter 3: Neo-Babylonian-Persian-Macedonian Empire Transitions
Chapter 4: Nanda-Maurya-Sunga Transitions
Chapter 5: Qin-Han Transition
Chapter 6: Carthage, Macedon and Seleucid Transitions to Rome
Chapter 7: Parthia-Sasanian Transitions
Chapter 8: The Early Islamic Empires Transitions
Chapter 9: Central Asian Empires Transitions
Chapter 10: Khwarezmian, Jin and Song Transitions to Mongols
Chapter 11: Yuan-Ming Transition
Chapter 12: Mali-Songhay Transition
Chapter 13: Aztecs and Incas Transitions to Spain
Chapter 14: Habsburg-Bourbon Transition
Chapter 15: United Kingdom-United States Transition

Product details

Published Feb 05 2025
Format Hardback
Edition 1st
Extent 524
ISBN 9781666974331
Imprint Lexington Books
Illustrations 30 tables
Dimensions 229 x 152 mm
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

About the contributors

Author

Kendall Stiles

KENDALL W. STILES is Associate Professor of Politi…

Contributor

Tanner Bennett

Contributor

Savannah Davis

Contributor

Rachel Hawks

Contributor

Ashley Jackman

Contributor

Rebecca Lines

Contributor

Jenna Mathews

Contributor

Serra Middleton

Contributor

Paige H. Murphy

Contributor

Dylan Pilling

Contributor

Kendall Stiles

KENDALL W. STILES is Associate Professor of Politi…

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