<p>Studying great power war (GPW) in the twenty-first century presents a paradox. On the one hand, GPW thus far remains a relic of the past, not a contemporary phenomenon available for empirical research because it has not yet occurred in this century. On the other hand, the risk of GPW appears to be escalating in recent years, especially in the Indo-Pacific region. Its risk is becoming so real and imminent that scholars must do more to study its potential in a theoretical, empirical way. This paradox must be confronted and addressed. This special issue advances the literature by studying “great power war flashpoints” (GPWFs) through a “Multiple War Streams Framework” (MWSF). Synergising the diversified literature on the causes of war, the MWSF seeks to guide empirical investigation of GPWFs in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond. By shifting the unit of analysis from “GPW” (which is only available for empirical analysis after the war outbreak) to “GPWF” (which is available for empirical analysis regardless of whether a war will be ultimately broken out or not), this special issue opens up a new arena for studying great power politics.</p>