War and State Development

PSCI 2227, Spring 2026
Prof. Brenton Kenkel, Vanderbilt University

Reading Guides

Date Reading
Wednesday, January 7 Spruyt 1994, ‘Institutional Selection in International Relations: State Anarchy as Order’
Monday, January 12 Olson 1993, ‘Dictatorship, Democracy, and Development’
Wednesday, January 14 Sánchez de la Sierra 2020, ‘On the Origins of the State’
Wednesday, January 21 Tilly 1990, ‘How War Made States, and Vice Versa’
Monday, January 26 Abramson 2017, ‘The Economic Origins of the Territorial State’
Wednesday, February 4 Thies 2005, ‘War, Rivalry, and State Building in Latin America’
Monday, February 9 Dincecco and Wang 2018, ‘Violent Conflict and Political Development Over the Long Run: China versus Europe’
Monday, February 16 Levi 1988, Of Rule and Revenue
Wednesday, February 18 Karaman and Pamuk 2013, ‘Different Paths to the Modern State in Europe’

Lecture Slides

Date Topic
Monday, January 5 Introduction to the course
Wednesday, January 7 Sovereign states
Monday, January 12 and Wednesday, January 14 Roving and stationary bandits
Wednesday, January 21 How war made states in Europe
Monday, February 2 European states: From war or wheat?
Wednesday, February 4 War and statebuilding in Latin America
Monday, February 9 Exit, voice, and war in Europe vs. China
Monday, February 16 Raising revenue