The role of great power war in the rise of Hegemons : a study of Dutch Hegemonic ascent in the modern world-system

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study explores the claim that Great Power Wars are a necessary condition for successfulhegemonic ascent in the modern world-system, primarily from the standpoint of World-Systems Analysis. This study advances the conception of hegemony primarily in economicand state terms, and it was investigated, by way of a historical case study, how the ThirtyYears' War (1618-1648) impacted the economic domains of agro-industrial production,commerce, and finance of the United Provinces of the Netherlands, and its main rival forsystemic leadership, Hapsburg Spain.The variables utilised in the study were Great Power War, and the 'material base' of the stateinvolved (both independent), the three abovementioned economic domains (intervening),and hegemony or defeat (dependent). The case study was primarily descriptive andexplanatory, with the use of process-tracing in its compilation, and a method of within-casestructured, focused comparison was utilised with the aim of tentatively producingstandardised, generalised knowledge concerning the wider link between Great Power Warand hegemony beyond the Dutch case.The findings of the study, although derived from only one historical case of hegemonicascent in the modern world-system, strongly support the argument that Great Power War isnecessary to secure the hegemony of the leading insular core state, which is physicallyremoved from the fighting during the conflict, since the full mobilisation of its economy iseffected, while the economies of most other core states are impaired, especially the maincontinental rival for hegemony. However, the ascending hegemon must also possess therequisite favourable 'material base'. Further research on this topic is called for, given thepotential destructiveness of a future Great Power War, and its role in establishing hegemonyin the modern world-system.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University