Coalitions and How Wars End

• In Event: Poster Session: International Security II

Abstract

Research regarding war termination has almost universally adopted a dyadic approach. This dyadic approach ignores the fact that a large number of international conflicts have a coalition of states fighting on at least one side. The addition of a coalition alters the bargaining process normally associated with war termination. Fear of a clever opponent dividing coalition members at the negotiation table makes coalitions less likely to negotiate, instead demanding unconditional surrender. This effect intensifies with greater diversity in the post-war policy objectives of the coalition members. To evaluate this theory I conduct tests using all COW wars since 1816 and I supplement the large N analysis with a case study on the non-negotiations between Germany and the allies during the Second World War

Author

• Daniel S. Morey, University of Kentucky