Brandon Valeriano is Lecturer at the School of Social and Political Sciences, University of Glasgow.

• 1. Introduction: Rivalry and International Politics. 2. The Steps-to-Rivalry Model. 3. The Empirical Dynamics of the Steps-to-Rivalry Model. 4. Timing and the Steps-to-Rivalry Model. 5. The Complete Steps-to-Rivalry Model. 6. The Rivalry Story: Iraq and the United States. 7. What Do We Know About Rivalry Now?

"We know that rivalries are a leading source of international conflict, and we know a great deal about the dynamics and consequences of international rivalries, but we know little about how international rivalries begin. Until now. In its exploration of the conditions and processes through which rivalries emerge, Becoming Rivals fills a glaring gap in our knowledge and makes an important contribution to the study of international conflict."—Jack S. Levy, Rutgers University"Becoming Rivals tackles a theoretically important and understudied topic—the factors that increase the likelihood that two states will become rivals. This is a highly original study with new data and a theoretical analysis that increases our knowledge of interstate conflict. Scholars and students in political science and history interested in rivalry will find it a must read."—John A. Vasquez, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign