ABSTRACT
How can we explain the variations in the level of peace, order, institutionalization and
cooperation in the various regions in the twenty-first century? I will propose that the com-
bined effect of two factors-state strength and national congruence (which includes issues
of national self-determination)—is the most important, although an additional factor can
mitigate or aggravate their effects-great power intervention (Table 1). The two key
factors-state strength and national congruence-can be subsumed under what I call
‘the state-to-nation balance’.1
