EFFECTS OF THE END OF THE COLD WAR ON RELATIONS BETWEEN THE GREAT POWERS
This research develops a design to test an hypothesis related to the effects on relations between the great powers of the conclusion of the "Cold War." The findings of this research are presented within the contexts of (1) hypothesis formulation, (2) independent variables and justifications for their use, (3) research design, and (4) predictions of the outcomes of testing the hypothesis.
The end of the "Cold War" also marked an end to the bipolar character of international relations that existed for 50 years (Hyland, 1990, p. 5). During this 50 year period, international relations was dominated by relations between the two superpowersùthe Soviet Union and the United States. "Superpower" was a special sub-set of the "great power" designation that reflected the military and political dominance of the two nations.
The end of the bipolar character of international relations is leading to what former American President George Bush referred to as the "new world order" (Simai, 1994, p. 37). Thus far, however, no one seems to be able to project with any degree of accuracy just what the character of this "new world order" will be. Among the new scenarios offered are (1) a multipolar character, in which either (a) the United States will be but one of several major players, or (b) the United States, Japan, and the reunited Germany will be the major players, with a considerably less significant role for Russia, and (2) a unipolar character in which the United States is the dominant world power.
There is little doubt that the international political order is changing, and that in the mid-1990s it is significantly different from what it was in the fall of 1988 (Simai, 1994, pp. 295-314). It remains difficult, however, to predict with any degree of accuracy who the major players in the developing multipolar or unipolar environment will and will not be, and w...