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The Strategy of Conquest

Author

Listed:
  • Dziubinski, M.
  • Goyal, S.
  • Minarsch, D. E. N.

Abstract

This paper develops a theoretical framework for the study of war and conquest. The analysis highlights the role of three factors - the technology of war, resources, and contiguity network - in shaping the dynamics of appropriation and the formation of empires. The world of many kingdoms is characterized by incessant fighting. After an initial phase of uncertain and gradual growth, the expansion of the winning kingdom speeds up, and it grows rapidly through contiguous expansion. The size of the empire is limited by the connectivity of the network. These dynamics are consistent with the rise of the First Chinese Empire.

Suggested Citation

  • Dziubinski, M. & Goyal, S. & Minarsch, D. E. N., 2017. "The Strategy of Conquest," Cambridge Working Papers in Economics 1704, Faculty of Economics, University of Cambridge.
    • Handle: RePEc:cam:camdae:1704
    Note: sg472, denm2
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    Cited by:

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    2. Sun, Xiang & Xu, Jin & Zhou, Junjie, 2023. "Effort discrimination and curvature of contest technology in conflict networks," Games and Economic Behavior, Elsevier, vol. 142(C), pages 978-991.
    3. Anbarci, Nejat & Cingiz, Kutay & Ismail, Mehmet S., 2023. "Proportional resource allocation in dynamic n-player Blotto games," Mathematical Social Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 125(C), pages 94-100.
    4. Anbarci, Nejat & Cingiz, Kutay & Ismail, Mehmet, 2018. "Multi-Battle n-Player Dynamic Contests," Research Memorandum 003, Maastricht University, Graduate School of Business and Economics (GSBE).
    5. Nejat Anbarc{i} & Kutay Cingiz & Mehmet S. Ismail, 2020. "Proportional resource allocation in dynamic n-player Blotto games," Papers 2010.05087, arXiv.org, revised Jul 2022.
    6. Asadul Islam, 2017. "Cross-modal Computer Games as an Interactive Learning Medium," Proceedings of International Academic Conferences 5007280, International Institute of Social and Economic Sciences.
    7. Bozbay, Irem & Vesperoni, Alberto, 2018. "A contest success function for networks," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 150(C), pages 404-422.
    8. Barajas, Jesus M. PhD & Natekal, Asiya PhD & Abrams, Carolyn MURP, 2022. "An Assessment of how State and Regional Transportation Agencies Advance Equity in Transportation Plans, Processes, and Implementation," Institute of Transportation Studies, Working Paper Series qt7q36991f, Institute of Transportation Studies, UC Davis.
    9. Cai, Xinyue & Kimya, Mert, 2023. "Stability of alliance networks," Games and Economic Behavior, Elsevier, vol. 140(C), pages 401-409.
    10. Xu, Jin & Zenou, Yves & Zhou, Junjie, 2022. "Equilibrium characterization and shock propagation in conflict networks," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 206(C).
    11. Levine, David K. & Modica, Salvatore, 2022. "Survival of the Weakest: Why the West Rules," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 204(C), pages 394-421.
    12. Serhat Doğan & Kerim Keskin & Çağrı Sağlam, 2023. "Analyzing strategic behavior in a dynamic model of bargaining and war," Journal of Economics, Springer, vol. 140(3), pages 233-257, December.
    13. Huang, Ying & Jiao, Qian & Shen, Bo & Sun, Xiang, 2023. "Conflicts in regular networks," Journal of Mathematical Economics, Elsevier, vol. 106(C).
    14. Cortes-Corrales, Sebastián & Gorny, Paul M., 2018. "Generalising Conflict Networks," MPRA Paper 90001, University Library of Munich, Germany.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Empire; conflict; contiguity network; resources;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D85 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Network Formation
    • D74 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Conflict; Conflict Resolution; Alliances; Revolutions
    • C73 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Game Theory and Bargaining Theory - - - Stochastic and Dynamic Games; Evolutionary Games

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