The Political Economy of Predation
Manhunting and the Economics of Escape

This book analyses conflict theory through one type of conflict in particular: manhunting, or predation.

Mehrdad Vahabi (Author)

9781107591370, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 16 May 2019

428 pages, 11 b/w illus. 35 tables
22.9 x 15.2 x 2.7 cm, 0.65 kg

'Some books appear quite surprising, disturbing or even pretty far from what economists can expect. This is particularly the case when authors look beyond traditional methodology in order to challenge existing research agendas. Nevertheless, few of such books provide a true renewal of thought. Mehrdad Vahabi's The Political Economy of Predation: Manhunting and the Economics of Escape belongs to such category. This book represents an ambitious and disturbing work, but in a positive way. It really provides new perspectives of research agenda with regard to the place of violence as an intrinsic feature of human interactions.' Renaud Bellais, Defence and Peace Economics

Still in the early stages of development, conflict theory presents a growing interest in understanding the economic costs and benefits of conflicts. In this book, Mehrdad Vahabi analyses one type of conflict in particular: manhunting, or predation, in which a dominant power hunts down its prey and the goal of the prey is to escape and thus survive. This contrasts with traditional warfare, in which two (or more) powers enter into a conflict and the goal is to fight to win domination. The economics of escape casts light on costs and benefits of predatory activities, and explores the impact of violence as an impediment to developing countries with respect to assets structure. This book is unprecedented in its research and thought, and develops a new theory of predation in economics that makes a significant contribution to the field.

1. Introduction
2. The meaning of predation
3. Domination, manhunting and conflictual costs and benefits
4. Rational conflict theory, paradox of war and strategic manhunting
5. Appropriation, violent enforcement and transaction costs
6. Appropriation, the state space and the economics of escape
7. Predatory nature of the state and democracy
Epilogue.

Subject Areas: Public finance [KFFD], Political economy [KCP], Monetary economics [KCBM], Theory of warfare & military science [JWA], International relations [JPS]