Interdependence, Cooperation and Conflict: An Empirical Analysis

Abstract

The article presents the results of an empirical analysis of interdependence, cooperation and conflict. The results show a curvilinear relationship between these three variables. Interdependence is measured by four indicators: the politico-military, economic, institutional and diplomatic ties between nation-states. The structure of interdependence relations in the period 1950-60 is analysed by means of multidimensional scaling techniques. The structure of cooperation and conflict is measured accordingly. The conclusions from the analysis are: first, that the four aspects of interdependence are closely related; second, that the structure of interdependence is relatively stable through time; and third, that strong ties of interdependence are not only related to processes of intensive integration, but also to processes of intensive conflict. The results show that interdependence has the effect of intensifying relations among nation-states irrespective of their nature. It intensifies not only processes of cooperation, but also conflictual processes.