Economic interdependence and the likelihood of war – a systematic literature review

International political (IP) relations have long been concerned about the relationship between economic interdependence and the likelihood of war. Based on a systematic literature review, this paper investigates how globalization and increased economic interactions post-World War II have influenced global conflict dynamics. The review contrasts liberal and realist schools of thought, with liberals suggesting that economic interdependence reduces war likelihood due to high opportunity costs due to disrupted trade. Using similar arguments, the realists propose a positive relationship, arguing that war has a minimal impact on trade. The review reconciles these differing perspectives through a detailed examination of various studies conducted between 1977 and 2022, highlighting the neglected effect of moderator variables in interpreting results. It also discusses the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine on global food crises and economic dynamics, illustrating the contemporary relevance of this topic. The paper concludes by summarizing results and highlighting the influence of potential moderator variables on the relationship between economic interdependence and war likelihood.