The general argument that an empire's ascent will be described by an S-shaped curve with a plateau or decline tacked on at the end is relatively easy to demonstrate when territory is the means of...

Extracted text: The general argument that an empire's ascent will be described by an S-shaped curve with a plateau or decline tacked on at the end is relatively easy to demonstrate when territory is the means of expansion. Gilpin acknowledges, however, that political and economic expansion are more likely to be the goals of the modern states that have defined the system for the last several hundred years. Explain to what extent you think this trajectory (the S-shaped rise, plateau, and decline) will continue to matter.