「トゥキュディデスの罠」の用語を提唱した人物である[2]:iii。これは、古代ギリシアの歴史家・軍人トゥキュディデスが、ペロポネソス戦争の要因を、新興のアテネが台頭し、その上で覇権国スパルタがアテネの台頭に恐怖したためだと分析したことに、インスピレーションを得たものである[2][3]:48。アリソンは自身の研究で、過去の歴史上、既存の大国と台頭する新興国との覇権を巡る衝突の事例のうち、大半が最終的に戦争に至っていると判定しており[3]:64-65、実際にその衝突においては戦争が起きやすくなると述べ、この現象を「トゥキュディデスの罠」と名付けた[3]:48。そして、2017年の自身の著書 Destined for War においては、これを現代の米中関係に当てはめ、数十年以内の米中戦争は不可避でこそないものの、可能性が非常に高いと主張した[3]:9。
著書
単著
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Remaking Foreign Policy: the Organizational Connection, with Peter Szanton, (Basic Books, 1976).
Sharing International Responsibilities among the Trilateral Countries: Report of the Trilateral Task Force on Sharing Global Responsibilities to the Trilateral Commission, with Nobuhiko Ushiba and Thierry de Montbrial, (The Trilateral Commission, 1983).
Beyond Cold War to Trilateral Cooperation in the Asia-Pacific Region: Scenarios for New Relationships between Japan, Russia, and the United States, co-edited with Hiroshi Kimura and Konstantin Sarkirov, (Strengthening Democratic Institutions Project, 1992).
Avoiding Nuclear Anarchy: Containing the Threat of Loose Russian Nuclear Weapons and Fissile Material, with Owen R. Cote, Jr., Richard A. Falkenrath and Steven E. Miller, (MIT Press, 1996).
Essence of Decision: Explaining the Cuban Missile Crisis, 2nd ed., with Philip Zelikow, (Longman, 1999).
Hawks, Doves, and Owls: An Agenda for Avoiding Nuclear War, co-edited with Albert Carnesale and Joseph S. Nye, Jr., (Norton, 1985).
Fateful Visions: Avoiding Nuclear Catastrophe, co-edited with Joseph S. Nye, Jr., and Albert Carnesale, (Ballinger Pub. Co., 1988).
Windows of Opportunity: from Cold War to Peaceful Competition in U. S.-Soviet Relations, co-edited with William L. Ury and Bruce J. Allyn, (Ballinger Pub. Co., 1989).
Rethinking America's Security: Beyond Cold War to New World Order, co-edited withGregory F. Treverton, (Norton, 1992).
The Greek Paradox: Promise vs. Performance, co-edited with Kalypso Nicolaidis, (MIT Press, 1997).
Realizing Human Rights: Moving from Inspiration to Impact, co-edited with Samantha Power, (St. Martin's Press, 2000).
Nonlethal Weapons and Capabilities: Report of an Independent Task Force Sponsored by the Council on Foreign Relations, co-edited with Paul X. Kelley, (Council on Foreign Relations, 2004).