This study could not have been written before Professor Karl Deutsch made his great contribution to political science in his book, The Nerves of Govern ment. In applying the concepts elaborated in that work to the study of inter national politics it has been necessary to interpret and, occasionally, add to the concepts developed by Professor Deutsch. I do not know whether Deutsch would accept these changes, modifications and interpretations. Here I can only say that I have attempted to stay in the same spirit that I think motivated Professor Deutsch's pioneering study. That spirit is...