Auniquetheoryofwhathappenswhenleadersfeararevolutionabroadwillspreadtotheirowncountryandhowthataffectsinternationalrelations.Whendoleadersfearthatarevolutionelsewherewillspreadtotheirownpolities,andwhataretheinternationaleffectsofthisfear?InRevolutionaryContagion,ChadE.Nelsondevelopsandtestsatheorythatexplainshowstatesreacttoideological-drivenrevolutionsthathaveoccurredinothernations.Todothis,heanalyzesfourkeyrevolutionarymovementsovertwocenturies-liberalism,communism,fascism,andIslamism.Hefurtherexplainsthatthekeytounderstandingtheresponsetorevolutionsliesinfocusingontheextenttowhichleadersfearupheavalintheirowncountries.Accordingtothetheory,Nelsonargues,fearofcontagionisdrivenmorebythecharacteristicsofthehostratherthantheactivitiesoftheinfectingagents.Inotherwords,leaderswillfearrevolutionarycontagionwhentheyhavesignificantrevolutionaryoppositionmovementsthathaveanideologicalaffinitywiththerevolutionarystate.Apowerfultheoryoftheprofoundeffectsrevolutionshaveoninternationalrelations,thisbookshowswhyonesimplycannotmakesenseofinternationalpolitics--includingpatternsofalliancesandwars--incertainsituationswithoutconsideringthefearofcontagion.
