ABSTRACT
This chapter offers an empirical test of the research hypothesis which posits that conflict onset locations diffuse geographically, via a spatially dependent link between conflict behaviours. For example, it may prove important to assess the impact of hot spots upon the process of regime change or upon the decisions that states make in regard to the allocation of priorities when choosing trading partners and determining foreign investment locations. In addition to the key explanatory variables, the author includes a number of control variables in his analysis which summarizes potential confounding or alternative explanations of dyadic conflict initiation and targeting. These variables represent those most commonly employed in models of MID onset in the conflict processes literature. Composite Indicator of National Capabilities (CINC) measures six components of national power: military personnel, military expenditure, urban population, total population, iron or steel production, and energy consumption.
