| My dissertation explores the potential pacifying effect of dyadic economic interactions on international conflict. Research literature on the role of economic ties and conflict is complex and there are opposing findings. This study dives into this problem and brings new evidence to bear on this lasting debate. I argue that dyadic economic ties, introduced as dense economic integration (DEI) in this study, have a pacifying effect on the onset of militarized interstate disputes (MIDs) and the escalation of those disputes up to interstate war. To evaluate this argument, I examine the presence of conflict and the level of DEI from 1965 to 2001 in all countries. The results support the hypotheses that DEI reduces the likelihood of the onset of MIDs and the escalation of those disputes. Furthermore, these results have important implications for the role of economic ties and conflict, and provide strong evidence in support of the pacification of international conflict through DEI. |
