POLARIZATION, POLYNOMIALS, AND WAR

Michael Wallace reports a very pronounced curvilinear relationship bet ween a new measure of the polarization of the state system and warfare during 1815-1964. He suggests considerable caution when interpreting the results and urges replication. This is a replication. Given the or iginal cautions, the additional ones made here, and the results of a r eanalysis, the conclusion is clear. There is no relationship-linear, m onotonic, or nonmonotonic-between polarization and the number, severit y, or magnitude of international wars during the period 1815-1976.