More Measurement Issues for Diffusion, Zones of Peace, and Network Effects

Abstract

Abstract This chapter tackles the measurement issues for diffusion, zones of peace, and network effects. The measurement of zones involves the identification of discrete regions according to the designation of the United Nations and the accounting of state neighborhoods based on their local environment. Moreover, measuring various zones of peace requires examining the overall pattern of structural relations between a state and the other actors in its neighborhood. The chapter then enumerates conflict zones, negative peace zones, positive peace zones, and security communities as the four neighborhood conflict and peace gradations identified in which a state can be located. It then details how to examine the influence of the neighborhood environment while using large-N, quantitative methods.