Citation

Wiberg H. J. Peace Res. 1989; 26(3): 319-325.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1989, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/0022343389026003008

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Mouritzen's dissertation is a theoretical and methodological step forward in the analysis of adaptive politics, avoiding some of the pitfalls of its predecessors. His main interest lies in (non-normative) theory construction, in order to explain how and why governments with powerful and threatening neighbours make - and withdraw - concessions to them. His 'rational actor' model constructions are confronted with historical data about Denmark's and Sweden's coping with Hitler's Germany, the conclusion being that a 'balance-of-power' model is superior to a 'tension' model, but needs supplementation with a theory of inertia, which is then worked out. Several additional cases of adaptive politics are briefly discussed.