ABSTRACT
The general theory of hegemonic succession wars in world-system theory is similar to that of power transition wars in political science/IR. Given uneven global economic development, some states becomemore dominant than others and they not only rise but decline as well, and importantly, their decline is tied to the rise of others. Eventually a point is reached where rising competitors are so strong, and a declining hegemon so weak, that international order can no longer encase the aspirations of rising, or the defensiveness of falling, and great power war breaks out.
