Answer to Question 1
To balance power, realists recognize that national actors need to see the value of
rapidly shifting alliances. Although balancing is occasionally described as an automatic,
self-adjusting process, most realists see it as the result of deliberate choices undertaken
by national leaders to maintain equilibrium among contending states. This requires
adhering to rules of decision making. It is necessary for all leaders to constantly
monitor changes in states' relative capabilities so that policies about arms and allies
can be adjusted to rectify power imbalances
Answer to Question 2
During the Cold War, many states sought to increase their security by purchasing
arms produced by suppliers eagerly seeking allies as well as profits from exports. In
1961, the world arms trade was valued at 4 billion. Thereafter, the traffic in arms
imports climbed rapidly and peaked in 1987 at 82 billion. The end of the Cold War
did not end the arms trade, however. Since 1991 when the Cold War ended, and
continuing throughout the era of global terrorism that began on 9/11, the total value of
all international arms transfers through 2014 was over 611 billion and the volume of
arms transfers each year continues to grow
When the United States gets stuck over a controversial issue—usually something a divided Congress ca
Distribution of the Income of Americans
The Distribution of Dominant and Minority Groups
El Anatsui Flag for a New World Power
Trimodal distribution of trauma deaths
Genotypes Give Rise to Phenotypes