This book discusses the role of space, time and cyclical behavior in world politics. More specifically, the political-economic role of lead economies ¿ the world¿s most innovative economies for finite periods of time ¿ in world politics. These represent unusual concentrations of new technologies, energy sources, and military capabilities of global reach that play disproportional roles in the conduct of international affairs and the provision of limited governance at the most macro level. They also possess close links to economic growth and intense conflict. The book describes the economic, military and political processes behind the systemic leadership of a state at the international level. It also