The Dynamics of Coercion: American Foreign Policy and the Limits of Military Might

by Daniel Byman, Matthew Waxman

Overview

This book examines how the United States uses limited military force and other means to influence adversaries and potential adversaries. It reviews when limited force can and cannot work and examines a range of current challenges, including those of guerrilla groups or minor powers armed with nuclear, chemical, or biological weapons. It also looks at the complications arising from domestic politics and the difficulties of using force in an alliance.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521809917
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	02/11/2002
Series:	RAND Studies in Policy Analysis
Pages:	300
Product dimensions:	6.22(w) x 9.37(h) x 0.87(d)

Table of Contents

1. Introduction; Part I. Coercive Strategy Making: 2. The theory of coercion; 3. Coercive Mechanisms; 4. Coercive instruments; Part II. The Context of Coercion Today: 5. Domestic politics and coercion; 6. Coercion and coalitions; 7. Humanitarian coercion and non-state actors; 8. Weapons of mass destruction and US coercion; Part III. The Future of US Coercion.

Editorial Reviews

Two members of the RAND Corporation revive the discussion about limited war that wandered away from people's attention when the Cold War and the threat of nuclear world war ended. They offer new thinking on the threat and use of force, emphasizing constraints on it that have emerged or evolved in the post-Cold War era. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews

"This timely RAND Corporation study focuses on threats of military action and on the coercive functions of military operations in war. . . . All in all, The Dynamics of Coercion should be must-reading for all practitioners and scholars of the art, especially those who, encouraged by the administration's optimism for controllable war, are unworried by the new enthusiasm for coercive diplomacy." Political Science Quarterly

"This timely RAND Corporation study focuses on threats of military action and on the coercive functions of military operations in war. . . . All in all, The Dynamics of Coercion should be must-reading for all practitioners and scholars of the art, especially those who, encouraged by the administration's optimism for controllable war, are unworried by the new enthusiasm for coercive diplomacy." Political Science Quarterly

"This important work offers a fresh look at the potential strengths and weaknesses of coercion in American foreign policy in the 21st century. Highly recommended." Choice

From the Publisher