Trade Networks, Trade Blocs, and Hegemortic Conflict

Abstract
Most structural analyses of the world system have focused on distinguishing the core from the periphery and semiperiphery. This article extends the structural approach by identifying blocs and groupings in the world market. A network analysis of trade among the 102 countries with 1990 trade of U.S. $2 billion or more finds that the United States, Japan, and Germany are by far the most important countries in the trade network. The U.S. and Japanese trade blocs are highly overlapped, while the German trade bloc is largely separate. The 1990 trade patterns suggest the potential for, and possible shape of, increased trade conflict between rival world powers.

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