Dyadic Militarized Interstate Disputes Dataset Version 2.0 (DYDMID2.0)

The rationale for generating a dyadic version of the Militarized Interstate Dispute (MID) dataset (Bremer, Jones, and Singer, 1996) is based on the following observations: There is a need for such a version in light of the growing number of studies on international conflict employing the dyadic unit of analysis, and utilizing the MID dataset. The existing versions of the dataset (e.g., the version, which is downloadable through the PSSI Website or the EUGENE Website) consist of two types of observations: (a) The dispute level. This level includes general information about the dispute such as its start dates and end dates, the numb er of participants, its name, the highest level of hostility reached, the outcome of the dispute, etc. (b) The individual participant level. This level provides entry and exit dates for each participant, the side it took in the dispute, the highest level of hostility reached, and so forth. Extrapolation from the individual level to the dyadic level by simple computerized means may cause considerable errors. Some of these are enumerated in the Dyadic MID Codebook. In strictly bilateral disputes, it is easy to transform the participation records for a specific dispute into a dyadic record, includ ing the combination of data from the dispute profile record in the dispute dataset. However, performing such a combination on multilateral dispute may cause a great number of errors. Here are some examples of such errors. Beyond these problems of extrapolation, there is a need to redefine certain variables at the dyadic level. For example, for some analyses, it makes sense to have an annual record of ongoing MIDs, while for others it is only necessary to look at the start year of the dispute. The minimum and maximum duration variables that are listed at the dispute level are not very useful when it comes to dyadic analyses, as each dyad may have a different duration from each other dyad within the same dispute. Likewise, the outcome and settlement of the dispute may not apply to all dyads.