Research Pacts cannot be broken by the AI. Only the player can break it. So if you want a guarantee on your neighboring civ not invading you while you focus on peaceful expansion, always stockpile enough gold to enter research pacts with him.
What if he doesn't have enough? Lend him some cash. Ask for gold per turns in repayment at slightly lower amount total. Example. Lend him 100 gold and ask for 2 gold per turn is a fair deal to him.
This way you keep your border safe for 25 turns and get a free tech. Win-win situation. It felt like exploiting but I think it's a valid strategy to keep in mind if you want to play non-warring empire, this is a viable way. Because eventually they'll run out of land and start settling near your area, triggering 'border tension' hostility in the process.
I managed to do this when I get a random archipelago map. I played nice and spent gold trading research pacts with everyone. Nobody declared war with me so far in the 1700 AD and I got a tech lead with destroyers and mech. infantry. Now I can start being a jerk and pick them off one by one.
What if he doesn't have enough? Lend him some cash. Ask for gold per turns in repayment at slightly lower amount total. Example. Lend him 100 gold and ask for 2 gold per turn is a fair deal to him.
This way you keep your border safe for 25 turns and get a free tech. Win-win situation. It felt like exploiting but I think it's a valid strategy to keep in mind if you want to play non-warring empire, this is a viable way. Because eventually they'll run out of land and start settling near your area, triggering 'border tension' hostility in the process.
I managed to do this when I get a random archipelago map. I played nice and spent gold trading research pacts with everyone. Nobody declared war with me so far in the 1700 AD and I got a tech lead with destroyers and mech. infantry. Now I can start being a jerk and pick them off one by one.