Abstract
This article argues strategic rivalries—distinct from general strategic competition—are best understood as contests in which states prioritize weakening a specific opponent’s capacity to compete. It departs from existing work by critiquing the Joint Concept for Competing’s narrow definition and by emphasizing rivalry termination as a central but understudied dimension. Drawing on decades of international relations scholarship and historical datasets of interstate rivalries since 1815, the article analyzes how rivalries end and identifies strategic preclusion as a proactive approach for winning them. Its insights offer policy and military practitioners guidance for shaping competitive strategies short of war.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
10.55540/0031-1723.3384
Recommended Citation
Antulio J. Echevarria II, "Strategic Rivalries: How Are They Won?," Parameters 56, no. 1 (2026), doi:10.55540/0031-1723.3384.
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