Interstate conflict over exchanges of homeland territory, 1816–1980

Abstract

This Study seeks to account for the incidence of military conflict in territorial exchanges between states during the period 1816–1980. In seeking to understand the conditions for military conflict when States exchange homeland territory, our model relies on three factors: the importance or significance of the territory exchanged: the expansionist tendencies of the states involved: and the relative power distribution between those states. The results show divergent patterns for the period before World War I and the period thereafter. The relative significance of each factor varies according to each era, and the importance of the gaining or losing side in the territorial exchange is also dependent on the time period. Possible theoretical explanations are discussed.