{"product_id":"the-cartel-system-of-states-an-economic-theory-of-international-politics-9780197632260","title":"The Cartel System of States: An Economic Theory of International Politics","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003ePeople in border towns often have closer relations with people across their immediate borders than with people in the same country as them. This is due to the fact that neither community can access the governmental institutions of the nation on the other side. Avidit Acharya and Alexander Lee's The Cartel System of States provides a powerful and field-shaping theory to address this issue, contending that the modern territorial state system works as an economic cartel in which states have local, bounded monopolies in governing their citizens. \u003c\/blockquote\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFormat\u003c\/strong\u003e: Hardback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLength\u003c\/strong\u003e: 212 pages\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePublication date\u003c\/strong\u003e: 08 December 2022\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePublisher\u003c\/strong\u003e: Oxford University Press Inc\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe people who live in border towns often have closer relations with people across their immediate borders than with people in the same country as them. Despite how intertwined these border communities often are, neither community can access the governmental institutions of the nation on the other side. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhy are the citizens of neighboring regions that lie across an international border often subject to very different governance systems? More broadly, why can’t public services be bought piecemeal, on an a-la-carte basis, with governments competing to provide higher quality services at the lowest cost in a marketplace for government services? These questions lie at the heart of modern International Relations.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn The Cartel System of States, Avidit Acharya and Alexander Lee provide a powerful and field-shaping theory to address a fundamental issue in world politics: the character of the territorial nation-state. They contend that the modern territorial state system works as an economic cartel in which states have local, bounded monopolies in governing their citizens. States refuse to violate each other’s monopolies, even when they could do so easily. Acharya and Lee examine what makes this system stable, when and how it emerged, how it spread, how it has been challenged, and what led it to be so resilient over time. Drawing from the centuries-long process of modern state formation, The Cartel System of States explains both how the present system of territorial states—by no means a foregone conclusion in retrospect—took over the world and how it might change in the future.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Cartel System of States is a groundbreaking book that offers a fresh perspective on the nature of the territorial nation-state and its role in shaping the world. Acharya and Lee argue that the modern territorial state system functions as an economic cartel, with states having local, bounded monopolies in governing their citizens. This system is stable because states refuse to violate each other’s monopolies, even when it would be easy to do so. The book provides a detailed account of how this system emerged, spread, and has been challenged over time. It also explores what led it to be so resilient over time.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOne of the key insights of the book is that the present system of territorial states is not a foregone conclusion in retrospect. Rather, it emerged as a result of a complex process of state formation that took place. The book draws on a wide range of sources, including historical, economic, and political analysis, to provide a comprehensive account of how the system came to be. The authors argue that the cartel system of states emerged as a response to the challenges posed by globalization and the rise of new economic powers. As countries became increasingly interconnected, they faced a common set of challenges, including economic instability, political uncertainty, and social unrest.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTo address these challenges, states sought to establish local monopolies in governing their citizens. This allowed them to control the flow\u003cbr\u003esupply of public services and ensure that they were provided at a lower cost than if they were provided by private companies. The cartel system of states also allowed states to exercise greater control over their citizens, which was important in the context of the rise of nationalism and the desire for greater autonomy.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHowever, the cartel system of states is not without its critics. Some argue that it is inefficient and leads to a lack of competition and innovation in the provision of public services. Others argue that it is undemocratic and violates the rights of citizens to access public services. The book addresses these criticisms by arguing that the cartel system of states is not a perfect system, but it is the best available option in the context of the challenges posed by globalization and the rise of new economic powers.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe authors also suggest that the cartel system of states can be improved by promoting greater competition and innovation in the provision of public services. This can be done by encouraging states to share best practices and by promoting the development of new technologies that can improve the efficiency and effectiveness of public services. The book also suggests that the cartel system of states can be made more democratic by promoting greater citizen participation in the governance of public services. This can be done by promoting the development of new institutions, such as citizen assemblies and participatory budgeting, that can give citizens a greater say in the decisions that affect their lives.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn conclusion, The Cartel System of States is a groundbreaking book that offers a fresh perspective on the nature of the territorial nation-state and its role in shaping the world. Acharya and Lee argue that the modern territorial state system functions as an economic cartel, with states having local, bounded monopolies in governing their citizens. This system is stable because states refuse to violate each other’s monopolies, even when it would be easy to do so. The book provides a detailed account of how this system emerged, spread, and has been challenged over time. It also explores what led it to be so resilient over time. The book addresses criticisms of the system by arguing that it is not a perfect system, but it is the best available option in the context of the challenges posed by globalization and the rise of new economic powers. The authors suggest that the cartel system of states can be improved by promoting greater competition and innovation in the provision of public services and by promoting greater citizen participation in the governance of public services.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWeight\u003c\/strong\u003e: 518g\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDimension\u003c\/strong\u003e: 147 x 243 x 22 (mm)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eISBN-13\u003c\/strong\u003e: 9780197632260\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"AviditAcharya,AlexanderLee","offers":[{"title":"Hardback","offer_id":44100550689018,"sku":"9780197632260","price":102.11,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0522\/4297\/2845\/products\/noImage_1_3d3aa9fd-189b-454c-8d21-fc9ea7a30d40.jpg?v=1671888331","url":"https:\/\/shulphink.com\/products\/the-cartel-system-of-states-an-economic-theory-of-international-politics-9780197632260","provider":"Shulph Ink","version":"1.0","type":"link"}