Avidit Acharya is Professor of Political Science at Stanford University. His research is in the fields of political economy and game theory as it applies to the study of politics. He is the co-author of Deep Roots: How Slavery Still Shapes Southern Politics. Alexander Lee is Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Rochester. His research focuses on the politics of South Asia, the process of economic and political development, and the role of historical forces and events in shaping modern politics. He is the author of Development in Multiple Dimensions: Social Power and Regional Policy in India and From Hierarchy to Ethnicity: The Politics of Caste in Twentieth-Century India.

• List of Figures Acknowledgments 1. Introduction 2. The Cartel Model 3. The Cartel Emerges 4. The Cartel Takes Over 5. Challenges to the Cartel 6. Resilience of the Cartel 7. The Cartel Today Notes Bibliography Index

In The Cartel System of States, Acharya and Lee analyze rulers as monopoly providers of governance services to citizens, who collude with rulers of other countries to restrict competition and protect their local monopolies. They use their theory to interpret the rise of the modern state system, and to analyze the challenges it faces in the current international political and economic environment. The Cartel System of States presents a striking and systematic argument and evidence that will be of interest to all scholars of international politics.

Avidit Acharya is Professor of Political Science at Stanford University. His research is in the fields of political economy and game theory as it applies to the study of politics. He is the co-author of Deep Roots: How Slavery Still Shapes Southern Politics. Alexander Lee is Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Rochester. His research focuses on the politics of South Asia, the process of economic and political development, and the role of historical forces and events in shaping modern politics. He is the author of Development in Multiple Dimensions: Social Power and Regional Policy in India and From Hierarchy to Ethnicity: The Politics of Caste in Twentieth-Century India.

• List of Figures Acknowledgments 1. Introduction 2. The Cartel Model 3. The Cartel Emerges 4. The Cartel Takes Over 5. Challenges to the Cartel 6. Resilience of the Cartel 7. The Cartel Today Notes Bibliography Index

In The Cartel System of States, Acharya and Lee analyze rulers as monopoly providers of governance services to citizens, who collude with rulers of other countries to restrict competition and protect their local monopolies. They use their theory to interpret the rise of the modern state system, and to analyze the challenges it faces in the current international political and economic environment. The Cartel System of States presents a striking and systematic argument and evidence that will be of interest to all scholars of international politics.

Avidit Acharya is Professor of Political Science at Stanford University. His research is in the fields of political economy and game theory as it applies to the study of politics. He is the co-author of Deep Roots: How Slavery Still Shapes Southern Politics. Alexander Lee is Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Rochester. His research focuses on the politics of South Asia, the process of economic and political development, and the role of historical forces and events in shaping modern politics. He is the author of Development in Multiple Dimensions: Social Power and Regional Policy in India and From Hierarchy to Ethnicity: The Politics of Caste in Twentieth-Century India.

• List of Figures Acknowledgments 1. Introduction 2. The Cartel Model 3. The Cartel Emerges 4. The Cartel Takes Over 5. Challenges to the Cartel 6. Resilience of the Cartel 7. The Cartel Today Notes Bibliography Index

In The Cartel System of States, Acharya and Lee analyze rulers as monopoly providers of governance services to citizens, who collude with rulers of other countries to restrict competition and protect their local monopolies. They use their theory to interpret the rise of the modern state system, and to analyze the challenges it faces in the current international political and economic environment. The Cartel System of States presents a striking and systematic argument and evidence that will be of interest to all scholars of international politics.